OUTBREAK: A Survival RP (IC/ENDED)

[Wallenburg]

The infected, cunning enough not to give away their position to prepared meat, did not stir when Hugh fired at the barricade. Hugh was about to tell his friends to head over and cross the barricade when Lauren shouted out, "Guys! We have company!"

Hugh turned around to see another group stopped some distance behind them. Hugh motioned for Rebecca to get in the car and drive it slowly to the strangers. He called to the others, "Cover me. Watch the barricade and the strangers."

He handed his automatic to Lauren and walked over to the survivors, his hands up in the air. "Howdy, there. My name is Hugh Garmany. Are you interested in cooperation?" he shouted.

=================================

The infected were getting restless. One shoved into the other, grunting. FOOD, it pleaded to its leader. The other threw it down to the ground and snarled. WAIT, it commanded. It to was getting tired of these meats, but it knew they couldn't take them down unless they had the element of surprise.

[Vacif]

The infected, cunning enough not to give away their position to prepared meat, did not stir when Hugh fired at the barricade. Hugh was about to tell his friends to head over and cross the barricade when Lauren shouted out, "Guys! We have company!"

Hugh turned around to see another group stopped some distance behind them. Hugh motioned for Rebecca to get in the car and drive it slowly to the strangers. He called to the others, "Cover me. Watch the barricade and the strangers."

He handed his automatic to Lauren and walked over to the survivors, his hands up in the air. "Howdy, there. My name is Hugh Garmany. Are you interested in cooperation?" he shouted.

=================================

The infected were getting restless. One shoved into the other, grunting. FOOD, it pleaded to its leader. The other threw it down to the ground and snarled. WAIT, it commanded. It to was getting tired of these meats, but it knew they couldn't take them down unless they had the element of surprise.

Brass, Danvers, and Carter stopped about 15 meters away from the man. Brass stood at the front of the formation, his M4 aimed at the ground, but ready to be brought up at a moment's notice. Danvers, and Carter however had their weapons raised, scanning the area, as they were in the open with no cover. Brass spoke up for the group. "I reckon that'd be for the best. Now I don't think that little roadblock over there is exactly natural. Which doesn't fill me with confidence that this place is safe. I take it you're trying to remove that obstruction?" He inquired. While there was still light out, it didn't exactly put the group at ease. The trucks were still running, drivers gripping the wheel, while tensely watching through the tinted windows of their trucks.

[Altito Asmoro]

Nikolas "Nick" Kharchenko / Melody Hanson
Day 29
Indiana

The street looks filled with infected, and to walk down the streets is suicidal as they have supplies in car.

"What should we do now?" asked Melody to Nick, as she woke up from her slumber, yawning. The car had stopped in front of a park, with Nick washing his face with a bottle of water outside.

"A place somewhere, to stock up our food and water. Convenience store, or we go to an abandoned house first, to stay there for now and then head out from there." said Nick. They both need a place to sleep, and a safe one.

The car went ahead to look for place, and finally found an abandoned store. No one is inside, by the looks of it, but it is not clear. Nick went outside after stopping the car, but when Melody went outside too, he said "Stay here, Melody. It's not safe for now."

" I can fight too, and I'm your girlfriend. We stay together now, why cannot for now too?"

" No, you stay, it will be quick trip, I go inside, grab anything left, then go back here. Please, we don't know if it will be safe. And lock the doors."

"............alright, but be careful, Nick." said Melody worriedly as she closed the doors of the car and locked it, knife in hands, in case of anything happens.

Nick went inside to find something, when suddenly an infected appeared right at him when he was inside, but he was quick to dodge the attack. He walked further back, finding a crowbar, before grabbing a cart and put down three water bottles and a pack of chips, and went outside, pushing the cart to the infected, pushing the infected outside in the process. As it lied down, Nick smashed the crowbar to its head multiple times before it died. Melody, panicked, went outside and helped Nick put all of the supplies inside.

Nick assured Melody he's fine, but she's clearly half-panicked by now. And then, after it finished, he started the car and it went again, looking for a place to stay.

[Wallenburg]

Hugh Garmany || Indiana

A man who seemed to be the group's leader stepped forward and spoke. After an inquiry regarding the barricade, Hugh responded, "We're trying to figure out whether something's behind it without getting slaughtered on the off chance there is something waiting for us."

Hugh kept his hands up from his body as he closed the distance between the two. Trying to talk soothingly, he asked, "Would you like to join us?" I may as well get to the point, thought Hugh. He looked around at the new group and counted at least 5 faces. There might be more in the vehicle. Hugh remembered his pistol, hanging in the back pocket of his pants. Only if he fucks up.

============================

The infected behind the barricade were losing their temper. Meat was never this stubborn to cross the barrier. BAD, grunted several of the infected at their leader, who seemed to be losing control. He could only snarl for them to wait, but the hunger in their stomachs was now dominant. A clever youth snuck behind the leader and, unexpectedly, jumped onto him, sinking his teeth into the leader's back. The alpha howled in pain and all the others howled, but with glee. In seconds they were all upon him. Grunts of BAD slowly transitioned into purrs of GOOD as the life left the alpha's body.

Then the youth howled to the sky and climbed over the barricade, his soldiers immediately following in their base desire to feed.

============================

The other group had no time to answer as a swarm of 30 or so infected burst over the barricade like the flow of some hellish volcano. "Oh my god!" shouted Hugh as he instinctively pulled out his pistol and started firing at the approaching beasts.

[New Grestin]

// DAY 29 // 11:36 AM // NEW EVANSTON

Most of the people in the compound had broken for lunch, an impeccable meal of MRE Pork Chop, boneless. Sarah sighed, leaning against the dormitory wall as people ate inside. She checked her watch and started wandering towards the armory. If I'm going to sit around, I'm going to get something done while doing it. She propped the door open, punched in the code, and grabbed a rifle from one of the lockers. She stuffed a handful of .308 rounds into her pocket and marked off what she'd taken before walking out into the courtyard. Alan and the crew were busy with someone at the front gate. Sarah sighed and wandered towards one of the walls. It hung over her, about eight feet of rebar-reinforced concrete. Sarah limbered up for a moment, then jumped.

Sliding back down the wall, Sarah rolled her eyes and walked back to the storage building. Throwing a lawn-chair over her back, she slapped it down in front of the wall and clambered over. The sounds of silence overwhelmed her. No birds, no crickets, not even the sounds of other people. Total silence. She breathed it in for a moment, then clicked the safety from her rifle. Dead leaves crunched beneath her boots as she trudged along, keeping close eye on the trunks as they passed. Most of the trees had lost their leaves by this point, tall pylons of wood with icy fingers that seemed to reach out for her. She figured that she might not find a deer out here, but if she could get a hunting crew together, people might not have to keep eating shitty MREs.

A twig snapped behind her.

Sarah swung, bringing the rifle level and placing her finger on the trigger.

There was nothing.

A chill rang down her spine as she scanned around her. Nothing more than dead trees and dirt. Sarah shook it off and kept walking. As she walked, she slowly became aware of footsteps behind her. They were light, like a child's. Sweat beads dripped down the back of her neck as she stopped. The footsteps stopped with her. She turned again.

Nothing.

She examined the ground behind here. Something definitely was following her, as there were tracks lightly pressed into the mud. She had begun to look them over when something tackled her from behind. Sarah tumbled, the rifle falling from her hands as she fell. Easing back up, her eyes fell upon a lanky creature. It was about six feet, emaciated and hunched, and completely buck naked. It's eyes were piercing white and tattered brown hair hung behind it's head. The creature may have at some point been a woman, but now, it was an abomination. Sarah slowly rose to her feet as the creature watched her. The two stood for a moment, until the beast shrieked and pounced at her.

Sarah sprinted through the woods, firing her pistol blindly at the creature. She barely had time to look before she slipped down a ravine into a small clearing. Her head hit something with a thud. Something metal. She rose, finding her reflection in onyx metal. It was a crashed blackhawk helicopter. The howls of the creature resounded in the distance and Sarah quickly crawled inside. She watched as it stood at the top of the ravine, sniffed for a moment, then sprinted back into the forest. Sarah sighed with relief, turning to examine the chopper. The pilots were skeletons at this point, stripped of flesh by the elements. A dead soldier still sat in his seat, buckled in for a mission he'd never begin. Sarah sighed. As she began to leave, she tripped over a small object. Looking back, she noticed it was a small box. The box, as she found, contained a laptop with the Atlas logo on it.

Sarah stuffed it in her backpack, shaking her head as she started off into the forest, hoping to bag a rabbit or a bird.

[Dubrovka]

"I'm not here to hurt you if that's what your wondering" Desmond Yelled "I'm trying to get to Northwestern University, but I'd like to trade some as well. Would you mind if I come in a trade a bit? I won't stay long". The girl on the barrier had some heavy weaponry, along with the people surrounding it. Desmond would have never guessed something like this would exist. He thought for sure the only people that would set up settlements would be raiders. Desmond glanced from side to side and determined that, no, these were not raiders. They looked like survivors but heavily armed and well defended. Desmond was feeling uneasy with so many guns on him. He attempted to defuse the situation.

"My name is Desmond, I used to be a K-9 Officer on the North Side of Chicago. This is my dog Max, don't worry though, he won't bite unless I tell him. I promise were not here to hurt you. If I wanted to kill one of you anyway, I could of done it from that tree line over there. Why would I walk up to the gate with no weapon drawn If I planned to hurt you? At this point what is a man with a rifle and a pistol going to do against all of you?".

[Beiarusia]

Samantha Tallow // New Evanston

Sam was in the Med-Tent, having been sent there by Luke after ending her lessons mayhaps fifteen minutes beforehand. Though the girl was reluctant to admit it – for fear of once more becoming an inconvenience – her injuries were starting to become a bother, more so than she’d like, something which Luke quickly took notice of and was quicker still to act upon. The medical attention Sam had received in the hardware store was rudimentary at best, and though the bleeding had been stopped there were no antibiotics on hand to prevent infections. The wounds needed to be cleaned and her bandages changed.

At the very least she was an expert marksman with a BB gun now, against cups at any rate.

The table was cold. Paulson, the local medic, had been busy attending to another matter, leaving Sam to wait in the tent alone. Despite how simple it appeared on the outside the man had gone all out in transforming the small space into a respectable clinic, one being hard pressed to spot any differences between the two. An examination table – simply a raised metal bench covered with a thin cotton sheet – occupied one wall of the tent with a desk sitting against the other. There was a cabinet with various medical supplies and even some basic medical tools as well, all clean and adeptly taken care of. All in all Sam very much felt like she was awaiting a doctor’s appointment, something she would normally dread but, given the current state of the world, the nostalgia was welcomed.

Paulson came in after a moment’s wait, having finished his conversation with Sarah and genuinely looking surprised to see Sam sitting atop his table, most likely having forgotten that she was even there. An apologetic look soon became a friendly tone as he spoke to her: “Oh, sorry about that. What was it you needed help with?”

Sam watched him speak, saying nothing.

The friendly gaze faltered ever slightly. “What, Reaver got your tongue?”

The girl tapped lazily at her ear, her go-to sign when having to explain her lack of understanding when people attempted to speak with her. In most cases this was enough.

“An earache?” questioned the man.

Sam frowned as the man continued to try speaking with her. She quickly made a sign with her hands, figuring that only a select group would know ASL and that one could easily connect the proverbial dots.

“Oh. Oh! That’s right, Sarah mentioned something about… uh… hold on a second.” Paulson quickly trotted over to his desk, picking through the clutter to find a small memo pad and a pencil. He tried writing, found the pencil to be unsharpened, and abandoned the stick of wood in favor of a trusty pen. When that proved to be out of ink he found another sharpened pencil to use. Paulson scribbled a note and approached Sam, holding the memo pad out to her. Sorry. What did you need?

Sam accepted the pad of paper and sparsely detailed her injuries.

Paulson nodded as he read her sloppy handwriting – Sam being unable to fully utilize her dominant hand. He wrote a reply. Show me.

Sam was slow to agree to such a thing, slipping out of Foley’s jacket so that most of her wounds were visible. Her forearm was bandaged and splinted with a healthy dose of duct tape with her side being treated in a similar fashion, though whoever had attended to her injuries hadn’t even bothered to remove her shirt, the formerly bright fabric being stained near black where she had bled through, gauze wrappings overlayed on top, something which seemed to concern Paulson as he examined her.

Choosing to focus on the arm first, Paulson lifted the limb as gently as he could, running his fingers across her skin while adding a minute amount of pressure, taking note that the fracture was minor. A simple splint would be fine enough until the break fully healed. More worrying was the shrapnel injury which hadn’t been cleaned. Using a small knife Paulson cut through the duct tape to remove the wrappings, going slowly lest he agitate the damaged bone. Sam winced as he worked, making an effort to ignore the dull pain with some measure of success. Her arm free, the medic examined the flesh wounds, finding them red but not quite yet gone to infection. Hydrogen peroxide was used to clean the wounds – Sam gritting her teeth as the man worked – and antibiotics applied before a clean wrapping was used as a bandage. A flat piece of wood was used as a splint, held in place by, surprise, more duct tape. In all it took less than five minutes.

Paulson gave Sam a thumbs up after he had finished, the girl returned a weak smile.

Starting from the back, Paulson slit through the bandages wrapping around her torso with his knife, pulling them with some force as they had since become stuck to the fabric of the shirt. Discarding the makeshift bandages, he glanced first to the girl and then to the spot of her shirt that had been soiled by her own blood, a difficult look coming to his face. He wrote a quick note. I need you to take off your shirt.

Sam went red, the thought of stripping in front of some stranger being almost too much for her mind to bare. Still, he was the closest thing to a doctor there was and, with how he looked, he wasn’t too enthralled about such a scenario either. Plus her injuries really needed to be cleaned or she would most likely fall ill, becoming even more of a burden to the group. With a solemn nod the girl agreed to do as needed, telling herself that this was common practice for many doctor’s appointments. Careful of her arm, Sam removed her shirt so that she was bare to the world, painfully self conscious and avoiding so much as glancing in the man’s general direction. Paulson, likewise, averted his eyes as much as he could and, after a moment to compose himself, went to work examining the wound.

The shrapnel had torn into her side, striking just under her left arm and leaving a path down towards her front, ending around the 9th rib. The wounds were irritated, more so than previously, and Paulson went to work cleaning them the same as before. Sam did her best to ignore the ache but found it difficult to do so, perhaps hindered by her embarrassment. Paulson, having gotten back on track, was focused solely on his job at hand, and in a few minutes had cleaned the wounds and applied antibiotics. He tapped at Sam’s shoulder, forcing her to acknowledge his presence, having her hold several gauze pads to her injuries while he wrapped her, the bandage traveling around her torso several times until it was tight but comfortably so. Done, Paulson examined his handiwork, Sam again growing red before he took notice of her discomfort. He went to offer the girl her shirt but had seconds thoughts upon taking hold of the filthy fabric.

I’ll get you a clean shirt, he wrote before leaving the tent.

Sam, alone once more, examined her now clean bandages, actually finding that she felt much better now than she had only an hour before. There was a mirror standing in the corner, the girl hopping down from the metal table and approaching, looking over herself as she had the day previously and finding that she was beginning to look alive once more. Some colour had returned to her skin and her hair, while still noticeably limb, was less so than it had been. While grungy and in great need of a bath, among most other hygiene essentials, Sam almost appeared normal in the mirror. She was still rather short and more of a stick then she would have liked but normal nonetheless.

Paulson entered the tent, his return visible to Sam via the mirror. She quickly positioned herself so that she was, more or less, in a decent showing, accepting the shirt Paulson handed her. It was a simple design with a dark blue phone box on the front, many sizes too big and falling over the girl’s frame more like a poncho than a t-shirt, though it was better than nothing. Sam thanked the man, writing a final note onto his memo pad before leaving, grabbing Foley’s jacket as she went.

Suddenly feeling tired, as if everything only now had decided to come crashing down atop of her, Sam figured she would take a nap. There was little else to do in the compound and it was unlikely that she would be missed for the next couple of hours. With little argument against herself she made way for the dorms.

[Actan]

North of Chicago

Luther walked across the deserted road. No signs of life moved across it - he assumed the infection has begun spreading and people were dieing, mutating, or fleeing. He didn't want to go any further north, as that meant facing an even worse winter than what he usually faced. He couldn't go to Chicago, as they would not only mean suicide due to the amounts of infected, but the massive firestorms and light he saw emanating from the area told him the military had likely resorted to drastic action in order to stop the infection from spreading.

What Luther knew was that he couldn't survive alone. Eventually he would be overwhelmed when he made a mistake, or starve as he could no longer loot abandoned warehouses, or find some other means in which he would perish alone and forgotten. It had only been close to a month since the infection started, so he doubted everyone devolved into near feral raiders at this point, although if the government didn't restore order people would start murdering each other for for food and supplies. Thankfully, polluted though it may be, Lake Michigan allowed for fresh water access to any surviving group.

Heading south into the Chicago suburbs, Luther hoped he could find another group somehow surviving, wherever they might be. The air was cold, as the spectre of death loomed over the mass heaps of bodies burnt by the police and national guard, and the many abandoned homes, or homes he hoped hoped were simply abandoned, showed claw marks and blood stains across their walls whenever he peered inside.

Hefting his rifle onto his shoulder, took his map, and plotted a route to Evanston, where he hoped he could find others that wouldn't kill him, or at least, some supplies at the university.

[Vacif]

Hugh Garmany || Indiana

A man who seemed to be the group's leader stepped forward and spoke. After an inquiry regarding the barricade, Hugh responded, "We're trying to figure out whether something's behind it without getting slaughtered on the off chance there is something waiting for us."

Hugh kept his hands up from his body as he closed the distance between the two. Trying to talk soothingly, he asked, "Would you like to join us?" I may as well get to the point, thought Hugh. He looked around at the new group and counted at least 5 faces. There might be more in the vehicle. Hugh remembered his pistol, hanging in the back pocket of his pants. Only if he fucks up.

============================

The infected behind the barricade were losing their temper. Meat was never this stubborn to cross the barrier. BAD, grunted several of the infected at their leader, who seemed to be losing control. He could only snarl for them to wait, but the hunger in their stomachs was now dominant. A clever youth snuck behind the leader and, unexpectedly, jumped onto him, sinking his teeth into the leader's back. The alpha howled in pain and all the others howled, but with glee. In seconds they were all upon him. Grunts of BAD slowly transitioned into purrs of GOOD as the life left the alpha's body.

Then the youth howled to the sky and climbed over the barricade, his soldiers immediately following in their base desire to feed.

============================

The other group had no time to answer as a swarm of 30 or so infected burst over the barricade like the flow of some hellish volcano. "Oh my god!" shouted Hugh as he instinctively pulled out his pistol and started firing at the approaching beasts.

The howl caught the 3 off guard as they tensed up, and brought their rifles up to towards the barricade. A swarm of infected came flowing over the wreckage. They were pasty things, hunched over, and scrawny,but they were vicious, and were wielding some malicious looking weapons. Brass fired a 3 round burst into the first creature he saw, he, or it flew backwards into a few others as they continued to pour through. "Fall back to the trucks! I'll cover you!" he ordered the other 2. They were both immune, and he was a carrier, if he died at least they had a better chance of not getting infected. The trucks were already turned around, and all the others needed to do was hop onto the bed. They turned around, to make a dead sprint, and cleared the distance in an impressive few secounds. From there, they fired on the things that got either close to the other survivors, or them. Brass was walking backwards while shooting into the crowd. These things were different from the normal infected. They were faster, pastier, and creepier, but they seamed to succumb to wounds that would end a normal human being, or at least render them immobile, this was backed up when he'd shot several creatures in the chest, where they ceased to move. He'd fired off maybe half his magazine, but there were still plenty of creatures. "Follow us!" he yelled to the man, their vehicle was already facing the way out, so all they needed to do was drive. Brass started to speed walk backwards while still firing, he hoped the man could hear him over the gunfire. Truck 1, and 2 were already making their way out, while truck 3 stayed behind for Brass, and the SUV group.

[Wallenburg]

Hugh Garmany || Indiana

A man who seemed to be the group's leader stepped forward and spoke. After an inquiry regarding the barricade, Hugh responded, "We're trying to figure out whether something's behind it without getting slaughtered on the off chance there is something waiting for us."

Hugh kept his hands up from his body as he closed the distance between the two. Trying to talk soothingly, he asked, "Would you like to join us?" I may as well get to the point, thought Hugh. He looked around at the new group and counted at least 5 faces. There might be more in the vehicle. Hugh remembered his pistol, hanging in the back pocket of his pants. Only if he fucks up.

============================

The infected behind the barricade were losing their temper. Meat was never this stubborn to cross the barrier. BAD, grunted several of the infected at their leader, who seemed to be losing control. He could only snarl for them to wait, but the hunger in their stomachs was now dominant. A clever youth snuck behind the leader and, unexpectedly, jumped onto him, sinking his teeth into the leader's back. The alpha howled in pain and all the others howled, but with glee. In seconds they were all upon him. Grunts of BAD slowly transitioned into purrs of GOOD as the life left the alpha's body.

Then the youth howled to the sky and climbed over the barricade, his soldiers immediately following in their base desire to feed.

============================

The other group had no time to answer as a swarm of 30 or so infected burst over the barricade like the flow of some hellish volcano. "Oh my god!" shouted Hugh as he instinctively pulled out his pistol and started firing at the approaching beasts.

The howl caught the 3 off guard as they tensed up, and brought their rifles up to towards the barricade. A swarm of infected came flowing over the wreckage. They were pasty things, hunched over, and scrawny,but they were vicious, and were wielding some malicious looking weapons. Brass fired a 3 round burst into the first creature he saw, he, or it flew backwards into a few others as they continued to pour through. "Fall back to the trucks! I'll cover you!" he ordered the other 2. They were both immune, and he was a carrier, if he died at least they had a better chance of not getting infected. The trucks were already turned around, and all the others needed to do was hop onto the bed. They turned around, to make a dead sprint, and cleared the distance in an impressive few secounds. From there, they fired on the things that got either close to the other survivors, or them. Brass was walking backwards while shooting into the crowd. These things were different from the normal infected. They were faster, pastier, and creepier, but they seamed to succumb to wounds that would end a normal human being, or at least render them immobile, this was backed up when he'd shot several creatures in the chest, where they ceased to move. He'd fired off maybe half his magazine, but there were still plenty of creatures. "Follow us!" he yelled to the man, their vehicle was already facing the way out, so all they needed to do was drive. Brass started to speed walk backwards while still firing, he hoped the man could hear him over the gunfire. Truck 1, and 2 were already making their way out, while truck 3 stayed behind for Brass, and the SUV group.

Hugh Garmany || Indiana || Day 29

Hearing gunfire behind him, Hugh glanced back, seeing the three who had climbed out of their vehicle spraying ammunition at the freaks. Lauren tossed Hugh an automatic rifle and was immediately tackled by an infected man. She kicked him off in midair and pulled out her knife as both landed on the asphalt. Before the freak could get up she pinned him down and slammed the knife into the back of his skull.

Hugh knelt down with the rifle and took down infected one-by-one, careful to conserve ammunition. Lamar was creeping back to the SUV, firing off rounds, when an infected threw a pipe at him. He narrowly missed the pipe, which clattered to the ground underneath the car. Hugh shredded the infected with automatic fire and looked back again, surprised to see multiple vehicles. The strangers were starting to leave, even as the infected were starting to retreat. Wait, thought Hugh. They're retreating? But they're just mindless husks! What is going on? The group kept firing at the few surviving infected, whose calls filled the forest with eerie echoes and bloodcurdling howls.

Nervously, Hugh and the others lowered their weapons. He turned around to the other group, which was starting to drive back west, and called out to them. "You can go back or you can come with us. Either way, we're going east." Hugh walked back to the SUV, studded with holes from a few stray bullets. He called for the others to get in as he walked past the car, checking the barricade for stragglers.

=======================================================================================================================================

The howls of infected, many of them wounded, pierced the midday air. The new alpha, the youth, was defeated, his plan gone to ruins. HURT, whimpered many of the infected. Others grunted, still hungry. FOOD, they pleaded. The youth realized that when they got over their defeat they would look for retribution, and started to inch away from the pack. But as he did so he backed into the chest of a large, muscular woman, who howled BAD. The other infected turned around to the woman and grinned. Howls and yips of approval filled the forest, the pack circling around the alpha. BAD, growled the pack in unison. BAD, BAD, BAD. The circle tightened, the youth terrified and begging for mercy with pathetic whimpers and growls.

Then the pack swarmed onto him and he was devoured.

[Vacif]

The howl caught the 3 off guard as they tensed up, and brought their rifles up to towards the barricade. A swarm of infected came flowing over the wreckage. They were pasty things, hunched over, and scrawny,but they were vicious, and were wielding some malicious looking weapons. Brass fired a 3 round burst into the first creature he saw, he, or it flew backwards into a few others as they continued to pour through. "Fall back to the trucks! I'll cover you!" he ordered the other 2. They were both immune, and he was a carrier, if he died at least they had a better chance of not getting infected. The trucks were already turned around, and all the others needed to do was hop onto the bed. They turned around, to make a dead sprint, and cleared the distance in an impressive few secounds. From there, they fired on the things that got either close to the other survivors, or them. Brass was walking backwards while shooting into the crowd. These things were different from the normal infected. They were faster, pastier, and creepier, but they seamed to succumb to wounds that would end a normal human being, or at least render them immobile, this was backed up when he'd shot several creatures in the chest, where they ceased to move. He'd fired off maybe half his magazine, but there were still plenty of creatures. "Follow us!" he yelled to the man, their vehicle was already facing the way out, so all they needed to do was drive. Brass started to speed walk backwards while still firing, he hoped the man could hear him over the gunfire. Truck 1, and 2 were already making their way out, while truck 3 stayed behind for Brass, and the SUV group.

Hugh Garmany || Indiana || Day 29

Hearing gunfire behind him, Hugh glanced back, seeing the three who had climbed out of their vehicle spraying ammunition at the freaks. Lauren tossed Hugh an automatic rifle and was immediately tackled by an infected man. She kicked him off in midair and pulled out her knife as both landed on the asphalt. Before the freak could get up she pinned him down and slammed the knife into the back of his skull.

Hugh knelt down with the rifle and took down infected one-by-one, careful to conserve ammunition. Lamar was creeping back to the SUV, firing off rounds, when an infected threw a pipe at him. He narrowly missed the pipe, which clattered to the ground underneath the car. Hugh shredded the infected with automatic fire and looked back again, surprised to see multiple vehicles. The strangers were starting to leave, even as the infected were starting to retreat. Wait, thought Hugh. They're retreating? But they're just mindless husks! What is going on? The group kept firing at the few surviving infected, whose calls filled the forest with eerie echoes and bloodcurdling howls.

Nervously, Hugh and the others lowered their weapons. He turned around to the other group, which was starting to drive back west, and called out to them. "You can go back or you can come with us. Either way, we're going east." Hugh walked back to the SUV, studded with holes from a few stray bullets. He called for the others to get in as he walked past the car, checking the barricade for stragglers.

=======================================================================================================================================

The howls of infected, many of them wounded, pierced the midday air. The new alpha, the youth, was defeated, his plan gone to ruins. HURT, whimpered many of the infected. Others grunted, still hungry. FOOD, they pleaded. The youth realized that when they got over their defeat they would look for retribution, and started to inch away from the pack. But as he did so he backed into the chest of a large, muscular woman, who howled BAD. The other infected turned around to the woman and grinned. Howls and yips of approval filled the forest, the pack circling around the alpha. BAD, growled the pack in unison. BAD, BAD, BAD. The circle tightened, the youth terrified and begging for mercy with pathetic whimpers and growls.

Then the pack swarmed onto him and he was devoured.

"Yeah? Well, good luck to you then, we're headed south towards Cincinnati, heard the East hasn't been fairing too well. Be safe." He called out, Carter offered him a hand, as he was pulled up into the bed of the armored pick up. Seating himself inside, he gave the cabin a nice slap, and the truck started to rendezvous with the others, headed south towards the 65. They'd spent about 48 rounds. The others radioed in that they got there safe. While Brass wasn't exactly happy about almost getting the others eaten, and using up 48 rounds (even though they had plenty) they learned some valuable information on the infected. Brass took in a breath of air, as he slid lower into the bed of the truck. The others watched the woods beside the road precariously as they drove on.

[Wallenburg]

Hugh Garmany || Indiana || Day 29

Hugh shrugged as the mysterious group drove away. "Strength in numbers," he muttered under his breath. Turning back to his friends, he called out, "Alright, then. Let's get this show on the road. Everyone okay?"

The others confirmed that they were fine. No bites, no scratches. As Hugh climbed in, Lauren eased the car off of the highway, around the barricade, and back onto the road.

"So, what's with them?" asked Rebecca, turning her head to the west.

"They're going to Cincinnati. I can only imagine someone has family there and convinced the others it was safer." That was all. The car was silent for a while, and Hugh looked out of the passenger window, taking in the Indiana landscape.

Hugh Garmany || Flying over Indiana || Day 02

Good afternoon, everyone. This is your pilot speaking. I regret to inform you that the captain is very ill and we will need to land in Chicago so that he can receive immediate medical attention.

Hugh sighed, "Well, there goes dinner with Mom and Dad." He took out his phone and started to compile an eMail to his folks in Los Angeles.

Lauren, busy fixing some poor code written by an intern under her management, looked up from her laptop and laid her hand on Hugh's. "I'm sorry. But I'm sure that they'll understand. These things just happen."

"I just wish I wasn't making this first impression with you," said Hugh.

"Come on, they can't be that bad," smiled Lauren.

Hugh nodded his head and hoped for the best. Looking out the window, he saw the Chicago skyline coming into view. Flying into Illinois, he could see the congested avenues and bottlenecked boulevards below and he clicked his tongue, thinking of how much his designs could improve traffic flow. If only they would invest in infrastructure.

The plane landed and taxied up to the airport terminal. Almost right when the plane stopped, a medical team burst into the aircraft with a gurney and ran towards the cockpit. Murmurs filled the cabin as the team disappeared behind the curtains. Only moments later, the team emerged, the captain on the gurney, coughing up blood and moaning for mercy. The murmurs escalated to loud chatter as a paramedic took out a needle and pressed it into the captain's shoulder.

A flight attendant emerged from first class and spoke over the chatter. "Hello everyone. My name is Kate. I apologize for the inconvenience of all of this. We'll be back in the air shortly. I can assure you that--"

A massive explosion--one Hugh dreadfully recognized as the sound of a ruptured gas main--rattled the plane and interrupted the attendant. The passengers panicked and stampeded out of the plane, pouring into the airport terminal. Hugh and Lauren managed to stay together and quickly found themselves next to a newspaper stand. They looked around and saw things were wrong. Gates were closing all over the terminal. Helicopters filled the sky, some of them lighting up with gunfire. And people were running. Everyone was running. It all felt like some crazy dream until a woman ran into Hugh, screaming for help. She pushed him away and kept running.

Hugh turned back, watching her flee, and then turned to the opposite direction to figure out what was going on. He found himself staring down a man covered in blood, his jaws incarnadine and his eyes fierce. Lauren nudged closer to Hugh, holding to his right arm. Then the man roared, blood dripping from his maw and everyone around him screaming in terror. The man looked back to Hugh and started running faster than Hugh had ever seen. The man leaped and Hugh ran to his right, pushing Lauren and himself to the ground. The man hit the floor headfirst. Slowly, he got up, dazed but even more furious. He clawed at the air in front of him and ran for Hugh and Lauren again. This time Hugh curled his hand into a fist and slammed it into the crazy's face, knocking him down. Hugh grabbed the man by his collar and hit him twice more before kicking him in the stomach. The crazy just kept roaring, blood spattering across Hugh's business suit and glasses. When Hugh let him go the crazy got back to his feet and jumped onto Lauren, grabbing her arm and biting into it. Screaming in pain, Lauren took her laptop and smashed it over the man's head. The screen shattered and the man's jaw fell away from her arm. Picking up a piece of the screen and covering it in her scarf, turning it into a makeshift knife, Lauren stabbed into the man's chest. The crazy howled in pain before relaxing, the life drifting out of his eyes into the pool of blood underneath him.

Lauren was crying, the bite wound more painful than anything she had endured in years. Hugh was completely numb, finding it impossible to believe what was going on. Detached from his own body, he watched as a helicopter fell out of the sky and crashed through the far end of the terminal. Hugh and Lauren were alone in this area of the terminal, but he could still see people running about in other areas.

Suddenly returning to reality, Hugh looked to Lauren and gasped, seeing the blood falling from her arm. He pulled her over and searched his bags for his first aid kit. He pulled out a large bandage and pulled up Lauren's sleeve, cleaning the wound in water and tying the bandage around it. He hugged her and they tried to comfort each other. Then, feeling unsafe in the airport, they started to make their way to the streets.

Running out onto the departures and arrivals road strip, Hugh watched as cars sped away from the airport. A Humvee rolled in and Hugh finally realized things were seriously wrong. Soldiers jumped out of the Humvee and started to grab people from the crowd, shining an instrument at their eyes and conducting quick blood tests. They then muttered a few words to each person and gave them a tag, either green or yellow. One of the soldiers grabbed Lauren and Hugh ran at him. The soldier hit him across the face, sending him to the ground. "What is her wound?" he yelled at Hugh.

Hugh could only stare in terror at the scene before him. The entire city seemed to be falling apart. The soldier pulled out a pistol and pressed it against Lauren's head. "What is her wound!" he roared. Lauren broke down sobbing, the cold metal taunting her with its power.

"A-a-a bite," stammered Hugh. The soldier immediately forced Lauren to her knees, gun trained to her head, as he scanned her eyes with the instrument. He uncovered the wound partially and took a blood sample, Lauren wincing. Hugh and Lauren were crying in terror, fearing for their lives and for each other. The soldier, on the other hand, was stonefaced, watching the instrument run its analysis. It chirped and the soldier pulled Lauren up. "Congratulations. You're immune. Now, you in the suit, get--"

He was slammed to the ground by an overweight man in khakis and a t-shirt with the phrase "Keep Calm and Kill Zombies" on it. Roaring, he clawed out the soldier's throat, sending blood everywhere as the crazy plunged headfirst into the screaming, dying soldier. Hugh and Lauren ran away as the other soldiers gunned down the heavy crazy. A young woman with officer's stripes on her combat uniform stared down at her soldier and fired a round into his head.

"What is going on?" cried Hugh, trying to get someone to give them a lift.

Hugh Garmany || Indiana || Day 29

Hugh shuddered as he remembered everything. They hadn't even known what was happening, and every day they seemed to encounter more unexplainable oddities.

"You alright, Hugh?" asked Lauren.

Hugh didn't turn to look at her. "Yes, dear, I'm fine."

[Charlia]

Charlotte had been in a state of near-unconsciousness, barely awake, light flickering before her as she was moved. She finally blinked awake to find herself in a strange room, and jolted up in shock before falling back down, a weak cry of pain escaping her. The stab wound looked terrible--oozing yellow and green pus, swellings, bright red skin around the wound. She touched it gently, then cried out in agony once more. It was definitely infected. I can't... can't get any luck these days, can I... She blinked as her vision tunneled. Then blinked again. There was just a pinpoint of light, and she tried to speak. "Can't... see... somebody help..." I don't want to die... Then she fell back into the darkness of her nightmares, unconscious again.

[New Grestin]

"I'm not here to hurt you if that's what your wondering" Desmond Yelled "I'm trying to get to Northwestern University, but I'd like to trade some as well. Would you mind if I come in a trade a bit? I won't stay long". The girl on the barrier had some heavy weaponry, along with the people surrounding it. Desmond would have never guessed something like this would exist. He thought for sure the only people that would set up settlements would be raiders. Desmond glanced from side to side and determined that, no, these were not raiders. They looked like survivors but heavily armed and well defended. Desmond was feeling uneasy with so many guns on him. He attempted to defuse the situation.

"My name is Desmond, I used to be a K-9 Officer on the North Side of Chicago. This is my dog Max, don't worry though, he won't bite unless I tell him. I promise were not here to hurt you. If I wanted to kill one of you anyway, I could of done it from that tree line over there. Why would I walk up to the gate with no weapon drawn If I planned to hurt you? At this point what is a man with a rifle and a pistol going to do against all of you?".

The group looked amongst each other. Ian shrugged and Alan looked back to the man.

"Look, we'll let you in if you relinquish your weapons. They'll be put in the armory and you can pick them up whenever. It's just a security precaution. "

Alan motioned for Alison to lower her assault rifle, then turned back to the man, awaiting a response.

---

Sarah clambered over the wall of the compound, catching a few odd looks from the guards as she slid down into the compound. Once they realized it was her, they went back to their duties. Sarah paused for a moment before entering the med-tent, adjusting her beanie, then heading inside. Paulson had just finished up taking care of Sam and Sarah patted the girl on the head as she walked over to him. Paulson smiled.

"Hey, what's up?"
"Found this outside town. You know anything about a helicopter crash?"

She handed him a briefcase. Paulson popped it open and found a laptop inside. He looked to Sarah.

"Yeah, I think. A couple people mentioned a helicopter went down back when the shit first hit the fan. You find this in there?"
"Figured you'd know what to do with it."

Paulson shrugged and flicked the power switch. The computer had encryption on top of encryption and layered with more encryption. Paulson sighed and turned back to Sarah.

"This, uh, this might take a while to crack."

[Dubrovka]

"I'm not here to hurt you if that's what your wondering" Desmond Yelled "I'm trying to get to Northwestern University, but I'd like to trade some as well. Would you mind if I come in a trade a bit? I won't stay long". The girl on the barrier had some heavy weaponry, along with the people surrounding it. Desmond would have never guessed something like this would exist. He thought for sure the only people that would set up settlements would be raiders. Desmond glanced from side to side and determined that, no, these were not raiders. They looked like survivors but heavily armed and well defended. Desmond was feeling uneasy with so many guns on him. He attempted to defuse the situation.

"My name is Desmond, I used to be a K-9 Officer on the North Side of Chicago. This is my dog Max, don't worry though, he won't bite unless I tell him. I promise were not here to hurt you. If I wanted to kill one of you anyway, I could of done it from that tree line over there. Why would I walk up to the gate with no weapon drawn If I planned to hurt you? At this point what is a man with a rifle and a pistol going to do against all of you?".

The group looked amongst each other. Ian shrugged and Alan looked back to the man.

"Look, we'll let you in if you relinquish your weapons. They'll be put in the armory and you can pick them up whenever. It's just a security precaution. "

Alan motioned for Alison to lower her assault rifle, then turned back to the man, awaiting a response.

---

Sarah clambered over the wall of the compound, catching a few odd looks from the guards as she slid down into the compound. Once they realized it was her, they went back to their duties. Sarah paused for a moment before entering the med-tent, adjusting her beanie, then heading inside. Paulson had just finished up taking care of Sam and Sarah patted the girl on the head as she walked over to him. Paulson smiled.

"Hey, what's up?"
"Found this outside town. You know anything about a helicopter crash?"

She handed him a briefcase. Paulson popped it open and found a laptop inside. He looked to Sarah.

"Yeah, I think. A couple people mentioned a helicopter went down back when the shit first hit the fan. You find this in there?"
"Figured you'd know what to do with it."

Paulson shrugged and flicked the power switch. The computer had encryption on top of encryption and layered with more encryption. Paulson sighed and turned back to Sarah.

"This, uh, this might take a while to crack."

Desmond thought for a minute about their offer. Should he hand over his rifle and pistol to a group that he knows nothing about?. Desmond finally said "Okay fine. You can have my pistol and rifle but I want to keep my dog by my side, no letting him stay out here. I also want to keep my backpack and my dogs pack, its where we keep our belongings to barter". Desmond thought this was a fair offer, considering that there would be no way a man and his dog with no weapons could take these guys down. Plus, he thought about all the people that threaten this place and how they must be wary of strangers. Desmond walked to the opening in the wall where a guard was waiting and handed over his rifle and pistol.

[New Grestin]

"Okay fine. You can have my pistol and rifle but I want to keep my dog by my side, no letting him stay out here. I also want to keep my backpack and my dogs pack, its where we keep our belongings to barter"

With that, Alan nodded to Alison, who pushed the gate open with some help from Ian. The gate creaked into place and the man stepped inside. He handed his weapons off to Ian, who carried them to the armory and locked them up. Alan nodded and the two pushed the gate shut. Ian stepped forward to address the man as Alison and Alan went back to watching the gate. He smiled, sticking out his hand.

"Afternoon. You said you wanted to trade?"

---

Sarah nodded, leaving Paulson to his work. She didn't really know what to think anymore. First the army decides to flagrantly go around executing people, now some Big Pharma company was walking around with documents about "formula testing"? It just didn't make any sense, unless...

Sarah paused, mulling the thought over for a moment.

What if they were the ones that made the virus?

She shook it off.

No, no. That's insane.

Sarah shivered slightly as she started for her building. It was going to start getting cold soon, and she hadn't found anything living in the woods. She couldn't even find any rats. It was like the infected had combed the woods, eating everything in sight. Considering how the world had gone out of it's mind, she figured that wouldn't be remarkable. Sarah looked up to the skies. It was probably going to rain, assuming the weather didn't change. Looking towards Chicago, she saw the smoldering ruins still burned, somewhat. She sighed.

It's going to start raining ash pretty soon. Might as well rename the town Silent Hill.

She smiled at the thought, then looked to see Ian with someone new. Raising an eyebrow, Sarah turned on her heels and headed in their direction. She quickly patted herself down and fixed her beanie before sliding in next to Ian. He nudged her, jokingly. Sarah smiled, lightly punching him.

"Where've you been?"
"Scavenging."
"Huh."
"Yeah, who's this?"
"Some guy. Says he wants to trade."

Sarah looked him over. At his feet was a dog, probably a German Sheppard. She wasn't much for dogs, she'd always been more of a cat person. On top of that, he was a cop. Prior experience had taught her cops tended to be nothing but trouble. Unimpressed, she spoke.

"Hm. Nice dog. What've you got to trade?"

[Dubrovka]

Sarah looked him over. At his feet was a dog, probably a German Sheppard. She wasn't much for dogs, she'd always been more of a cat person. On top of that, he was a cop. Prior experience had taught her cops tended to be nothing but trouble. Unimpressed, she spoke.

"Hm. Nice dog. What've you got to trade?"

Desmond walked inside and a man held out his hand. Desmond overheard his name being said, so he shook his hand and responded "Yea I am looking to trade for a few things. I need dog kibble or wet food for my friend here, and I need some drinks and food along with any fuel you might have. I'm willing to trade valubles along with..." Just then Desmond was cut off by a girl that walked up to the conversation.

She spoke in an authoritative tone. She asked "Hm. Nice dog. What've you got to trade?".

Desmond replied. "A few odds and ends along with ammunition, food, valuables, and something else that I found before me and my friend here found before we got the hell out of the city. Now I'm not going to tell you what it is unless you promise to tell no one else it, it could cause shit. Tell no one and we can find a place to discuss it, deal?".

[New Grestin]

Sarah looked him over. At his feet was a dog, probably a German Sheppard. She wasn't much for dogs, she'd always been more of a cat person. On top of that, he was a cop. Prior experience had taught her cops tended to be nothing but trouble. Unimpressed, she spoke.

"Hm. Nice dog. What've you got to trade?"

Desmond walked inside and a man held out his hand. Desmond overheard his name being said, so he shook his hand and responded "Yea I am looking to trade for a few things. I need dog kibble or wet food for my friend here, and I need some drinks and food along with any fuel you might have. I'm willing to trade valubles along with..." Just then Desmond was cut off by a girl that walked up to the conversation.

She spoke in an authoritative tone. She asked "Hm. Nice dog. What've you got to trade?".

Desmond replied. "A few odds and ends along with ammunition, food, valuables, and something else that I found before me and my friend here found before we got the hell out of the city. Now I'm not going to tell you what it is unless you promise to tell no one else it, it could cause shit. Tell no one and we can find a place to discuss it, deal?".

Sarah eyed the man strangely at the request, but motioned to the garage.

"We can talk in the garage over there."

She looked over to Ian, who took her aside for a moment. Whispering, he spoke.

"I don't trust it. Just be-"
"Careful. I know."

Sarah smiled and kissed him, before heading towards the garage, taking care to make sure her revolver was ready. Stepping inside, she leaned against the wall and turned to the man.

"So, what exactly is this incredible item that requires the utmost privacy?

There was an obvious tone of sarcasm in her voice.

[Dubrovka]

"So, what exactly is this incredible item that requires the utmost privacy?

There was an obvious tone of sarcasm in her voice.

"You won't be so sarcastic when you see what it is" Desmond exclaimed. He reached into his dogs leather pack strapped to the side of it and removed a hard drive and a map.

Desmond whispered "Before I had to get the hell out of the city, I came across a recently crashed helicopter from the Minnesota National Guard. Everyone on board was dead, it was a terrible scene. Before I was swarmed by infected, I managed to find the hard drive and map on the body of the officer in the helicopter. Now, I'm not quite sure whats even on the hard drive, but when I compare the fact that he was a Colonel, and I compare it to the map, I made a few conclusions".

Desmond layed out the map on the ground. It was a map of the US with every city that was hit, marking the ones that were safe and the ones that were hit. The map was also marked in pen with government and military bases. It was also marked with other things like major government installations and troop numbers deployed around the country. Desmond whispered "This map is about 13 days old, but I don't know how anyone is going to get more reliable info on what the hell is happening. Even though I have no clue whats on this drive, and it may be useless, but more likely in my opinion is it must be important because of what was carried along with it. Now do you understand why we had to be in here to talk about this? I don't want this stolen or destroyed because this is the last credible evidence of the outside world anyone can get. Do you understand now why it is so important? This drive may have evidence on anything from where is safe to what the hell caused this fucking mess. Do you have anyone that could decrypt this drive?".

[New Grestin]

"So, what exactly is this incredible item that requires the utmost privacy?

There was an obvious tone of sarcasm in her voice.

"You won't be so sarcastic when you see what it is" Desmond exclaimed. He reached into his dogs leather pack strapped to the side of it and removed a hard drive and a map.

Desmond whispered "Before I had to get the hell out of the city, I came across a recently crashed helicopter from the Minnesota National Guard. Everyone on board was dead, it was a terrible scene. Before I was swarmed by infected, I managed to find the hard drive and map on the body of the officer in the helicopter. Now, I'm not quite sure whats even on the hard drive, but when I compare the fact that he was a Colonel, and I compare it to the map, I made a few conclusions".

Desmond layed out the map on the ground. It was a map of the US with every city that was hit, marking the ones that were safe and the ones that were hit. The map was also marked in pen with government and military bases. It was also marked with other things like major government installations and troop numbers deployed around the country. Desmond whispered "This map is about 13 days old, but I don't know how anyone is going to get more reliable info on what the hell is happening. Even though I have no clue whats on this drive, and it may be useless, but more likely in my opinion is it must be important because of what was carried along with it. Now do you understand why we had to be in here to talk about this? I don't want this stolen or destroyed because this is the last credible evidence of the outside world anyone can get. Do you understand now why it is so important? This drive may have evidence on anything from where is safe to what the hell caused this fucking mess. Do you have anyone that could decrypt this drive?".

Sarah paused for a moment, eyeing the map for a moment before looking back to the man. A wry smile came across her face.

"You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention. We've got a guy who might be able to decrypt it, but he's working on something similar."

She stepped forward, leaning over the map. Looking it over, it was obvious the government had completely rammed it's head up it's own ass. At least a dozen major cities bombed into a oblivion, a war crime so appalling they'd only be able to get away with it after the apocalypse. On top of that, hundreds of military installations were marked, at least half of them marked off. Man, she thought, we really are fucked.

Sarah eased off the table and lit a cigarette. She looked back to the man.

"I'll cut you a deal. We can trade for whatever dog food we've got sitting around, you let my guy take a look at that hard-drive."

She took a long drag, then spoke again.

"Shit, I'll even throw in a few cans of SPAM and a gallon of filtered water."

[Vacif]

Exellia Convoy
I-65
Day 29
2:28 PM

Brass had fallen asleep briefly in the bed of the pickup. He didn't remember what he dreamed about, but it wasn't exactly anything pleasant. Probably for the best he didn't remember. Looking to his right, he saw Danvers looking over a map. "I miss anything?" he said still slightly half asleep. "Not really, had to bodge a few crashes, but not much activity out here. We're about 2 hours away form Indianapolis at our current pace, and about 3 and a half hours away from Cincinnati. That is considering there isn't some major blockage that causes us to take a detour away from our journey. For now the roads are pretty clear, most of the wreckage ought to be near civilization, so unless we need to stop for supplies, I say we skip Indianapolis." remarked Danvers. "That's something you should talk to Morgan about. Him, Rogers, and Stacer are the ones in the front." said Brass. From his count it was Morgan, Rogers, Stacer in Truck 1, Elizabeth in Truck 2, and Him, Carter, Danvers, and Alvaro in Truck 3. "We should switch drivers soon, and actually be inside of the vehicle." suggested Brass. The two in the bed of the truck were silent for a moment until Carter finally spoke up. "Good call."

[Alouite]

Day 29 | 10:45 | New Evanston

Jean sat in the truck and sighed. He took a swig of Bourbon and closed his eyes. His mind drifted from reality and he dreamed of the days he was on vacation with his girlfriend Marie, his friend Ibrahim and his friend's girlfriend Céline. They had rented a cabin in Southern France along the Atlantic Side during the mid summer and were relaxing in the warm beach winds. The day had been nice overall and he hadn't thought about it again until today. Suddenly he realized that it felt far more nostalgic then it should. As if he'd never see them again. The thought infuriated him and he punched the dashboard leaving a light dent and a light bruise on his fist. He said "Ceci est conneries." And shook his head annoyed at the situation he was stuck in.

Then it sunk in how in the world will I make it back if the American Government sees me as an enemy?. He suddenly felt quite disturbed with the new fascist United States he was living in and accepted the view that the current US government was illegitimate and that therefore they should be treated as warlords. Memories of Central African warlords flashed through his mind and he suddenly got a picture of what he was dealing with, well equipped war lords with the ability to eradicate tens of millions. And indeed they were doing this, at least in Chicago, but knowing that one case of this indicated that there were definitely more than one case of this, he suspected that many US cities had experienced such bombings.

He got out of the car bourbon in his pocket when he saw a crowd begin to gather. He saw Sarah discipline a hungry thief and realized what he was dealing with, a very logical, but slightly emotionally apathetic leader. One that could become very powerful, but also could become very destructive. He noted this to himself, but as he walked back to the armored car he was confronted by Henry. Henry said "We need to talk about Sarah." Jean replied "What about her." not wanting to jump to conclusions.

[Dubrovka]

"You won't be so sarcastic when you see what it is" Desmond exclaimed. He reached into his dogs leather pack strapped to the side of it and removed a hard drive and a map.

Desmond whispered "Before I had to get the hell out of the city, I came across a recently crashed helicopter from the Minnesota National Guard. Everyone on board was dead, it was a terrible scene. Before I was swarmed by infected, I managed to find the hard drive and map on the body of the officer in the helicopter. Now, I'm not quite sure whats even on the hard drive, but when I compare the fact that he was a Colonel, and I compare it to the map, I made a few conclusions".

Desmond layed out the map on the ground. It was a map of the US with every city that was hit, marking the ones that were safe and the ones that were hit. The map was also marked in pen with government and military bases. It was also marked with other things like major government installations and troop numbers deployed around the country. Desmond whispered "This map is about 13 days old, but I don't know how anyone is going to get more reliable info on what the hell is happening. Even though I have no clue whats on this drive, and it may be useless, but more likely in my opinion is it must be important because of what was carried along with it. Now do you understand why we had to be in here to talk about this? I don't want this stolen or destroyed because this is the last credible evidence of the outside world anyone can get. Do you understand now why it is so important? This drive may have evidence on anything from where is safe to what the hell caused this fucking mess. Do you have anyone that could decrypt this drive?".

Sarah paused for a moment, eyeing the map for a moment before looking back to the man. A wry smile came across her face.

"You had my curiosity. Now you have my attention. We've got a guy who might be able to decrypt it, but he's working on something similar."

She stepped forward, leaning over the map. Looking it over, it was obvious the government had completely rammed it's head up it's own ass. At least a dozen major cities bombed into a oblivion, a war crime so appalling they'd only be able to get away with it after the apocalypse. On top of that, hundreds of military installations were marked, at least half of them marked off. Man, she thought, we really are fucked.

Sarah eased off the table and lit a cigarette. She looked back to the man.

"I'll cut you a deal. We can trade for whatever dog food we've got sitting around, you let my guy take a look at that hard-drive."

She took a long drag, then spoke again.

"Shit, I'll even throw in a few cans of SPAM and a gallon of filtered water."

Desmond thought about it for a minute before finally saying "Okay. I'll take the dog food and the spam and the filtered water. You can look at what is on the hard drive if I get to look at what is on it aswell. I risked my life for this and I want to see whats on it. Thats fair right? Also I want access into Northwestern University, my parents taught there when this all went down, I want to see if they are still alive. All of that sound fair? You can have the map if you give me 30 rounds of 5.56 ammo if you want".

[New Grestin]

-SNIP-

Sarah eased off the table, puffing smoke into the air. She smiled.

"Deal. We'll get the supplies together. I can't ensure the University is fine, but no one's stopping you from looking."

She smiled, sticking her hand out. She still didn't trust him, but he wasn't exactly demanding anything. Sarah picked up the hard-drive, sliding it into her pocket and stepping outside. Ian was waiting for her.

"So, how'd it go?"
"Good. We're giving him four cans of SPAM, a gallon of water, and some dog food."
"For what?"
"Information."
"What did he tell you?"

She paused for a moment, looking back to the garage, then back to Ian.

"Don't worry about it, just wrangle up the supplies and get them ready. I need to talk to Paulson."

With that, Sarah headed off for the Med-Tent. She turned back to Ian.

"Make sure he's got a bed for the night, if he wants it."

[Wallenburg]

Hugh Garmany || I-90, Ohio || Day 29

The sun was low in the sky when the fuel gauge of the SUV chimed. Hugh startled up from his nightmares and looked around. They were still on the highway, a sign reading "Next Exit: Route 66, Archbold".

"We're low on gas," said Lauren. "We'll have to stop here and refuel."

She took the next right and pulled off of the interstate. They rolled through thick forest, with an old house peeking out occasionally from the thick veil of leaves. Soon, they were in a small town. A VERY small town. Lauren stopped the car in front of a church and the four started searching for fuel to siphon.