OUTBREAK: A Survival RP (IC/ENDED)

[New Grestin]

// DAY 29 // 1:45 PM // NEW EVANSTON //

Sarah, Paulson, Ian, and Alison stood around in the med-tent. Rain pattered down onto the compound, black from soot and debris. Lighting and thunder clattered overhead. The room was cold was Sarah tossed her cigarette aside and spoke.

"Now, here's the deal. Somehow, Atlas is involved."

Alan gave her an odd look.

"What, the pharmaceutical company?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know?"

Paulson spoke up.

"I found a flash drive on one of the Hazmats. It had all kinds of data on it. Crazy shit, testing logs, incident reports, that kind of thing. I think-"

He paused for a moment, sighing.

"I think they may have created the virus."

The words seemed to hang in the room. Everyone was deathly silent. Alison shook her head, Ian became solemn. Alan finally broke the silence.

"This is crazy."

Sarah sighed.

"I know it does, but now the new guy gave us a hard-drive with-"

Paulson cut in, his voice trembling.

"With even more info. Namely, their contract with the United States government."

Sarah nodded, then spoke again.

"Which is why I believe we need to establish a dedicated security force. Probably about ten people or so. If this shit is true, then we're in real danger."

Alan nodded.

"We've got at least five on permanent guard duty. Me, Ian, Hank, Ali and you could fill out the rest."

Sarah smiled.

"Exactly what I had in mind."

---

// DAY 29 // 2:10 PM // NEW EVANSTON //

Ten people stood before Sarah, milling about. Hank, the preacher. Ian, her second in command. Alan, the Sheriff. Then Alison, a mechanic. Among them were five others, pulled from the rest of the group. Sarah looked them over, then, in an authoritative tone, spoke.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. I've brought you all here because circumstances require us to have a dedicated, trained security force. You'll be responsible for compound security, supply runs, and, if it comes down to it, defending against attack. This group will be called the New Evanston Main Force Patrol."

There was a moment of silence, then Alison spoke.

"That's dumb."

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, well, when you're in charge, you can call it whatever you want."

Sarah brought her hands behind her back and spoke once more.

"Now, we're going to run some drills, just to see where everyone's at. I want you all to grab an AR and meet me at the gate in five minutes. Grab suppressors while you're at it."

The group looked amongst themselves. Sarah gestured to a table she'd set up with a menagerie of assault rifles and carbines. Each member grabbed one and followed her to the gate, a bucket of improvised silencers clinking in her hand. Sarah stood on the wall, looking out over the road. There was a small horde of infected headed down the road. Sarah grabbed a rifle from one of the men and slid a suppressor onto it. She laid down, taking aim and squeezing the trigger. The round struck true, blasting the zed's brains across the pavement. With that, she stood up and looked to the men.

"I want each of you to grab a suppressor, find a spot, and kill ten zeds each. If you kill less than ten, you owe me a hundred push-ups. Everyone understand?"

Some of them nodded, others looked confused. Sarah smiled.

"Get to work, folks."

[Partially Blind People]

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.

Henry led the man over to a secluded corner. He glanced around the dirty area, checking for any eavesdroppers, but found none. With his security checking over he turned to Jean, keeping his voice low and soft,
"She's not exactly a paragon of democracy and free will is she?"

[Tayner]

// DAY 29 // 1:45 PM // NEW EVANSTON //

Sarah, Paulson, Ian, and Alison stood around in the med-tent. Rain pattered down onto the compound, black from soot and debris. Lighting and thunder clattered overhead. The room was cold was Sarah tossed her cigarette aside and spoke.

"Now, here's the deal. Somehow, Atlas is involved."

Alan gave her an odd look.

"What, the pharmaceutical company?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know?"

Paulson spoke up.

"I found a flash drive on one of the Hazmats. It had all kinds of data on it. Crazy shit, testing logs, incident reports, that kind of thing. I think-"

He paused for a moment, sighing.

"I think they may have created the virus."

The words seemed to hang in the room. Everyone was deathly silent. Alison shook her head, Ian became solemn. Alan finally broke the silence.

"This is crazy."

Sarah sighed.

"I know it does, but now the new guy gave us a hard-drive with-"

Paulson cut in, his voice trembling.

"With even more info. Namely, their contract with the United States government."

Sarah nodded, then spoke again.

"Which is why I believe we need to establish a dedicated security force. Probably about ten people or so. If this shit is true, then we're in real danger."

Alan nodded.

"We've got at least five on permanent guard duty. Me, Ian, Hank, Ali and you could fill out the rest."

Sarah smiled.

"Exactly what I had in mind."

---

// DAY 29 // 2:10 PM // NEW EVANSTON //

Ten people stood before Sarah, milling about. Hank, the preacher. Ian, her second in command. Alan, the Sheriff. Then Alison, a mechanic. Among them were five others, pulled from the rest of the group. Sarah looked them over, then, in an authoritative tone, spoke.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. I've brought you all here because circumstances require us to have a dedicated, trained security force. You'll be responsible for compound security, supply runs, and, if it comes down to it, defending against attack. This group will be called the New Evanston Main Force Patrol."

There was a moment of silence, then Alison spoke.

"That's dumb."

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, well, when you're in charge, you can call it whatever you want."

Sarah brought her hands behind her back and spoke once more.

"Now, we're going to run some drills, just to see where everyone's at. I want you all to grab an AR and meet me at the gate in five minutes. Grab suppressors while you're at it."

The group looked amongst themselves. Sarah gestured to a table she'd set up with a menagerie of assault rifles and carbines. Each member grabbed one and followed her to the gate, a bucket of improvised silencers clinking in her hand. Sarah stood on the wall, looking out over the road. There was a small horde of infected headed down the road. Sarah grabbed a rifle from one of the men and slid a suppressor onto it. She laid down, taking aim and squeezing the trigger. The round struck true, blasting the zed's brains across the pavement. With that, she stood up and looked to the men.

"I want each of you to grab a suppressor, find a spot, and kill ten zeds each. If you kill less than ten, you owe me a hundred push-ups. Everyone understand?"

Some of them nodded, others looked confused. Sarah smiled.

"Get to work, folks."

Luke was puzzled when he returned from a bathroom break and saw on the log book that Sarah had checked out a lot of assault riffles. Luke went into a drawer where he found some smokes earlier and pulled one out. He exited the building, and light a cigarette. He leaned on the wall as Sarah gave instructions to the milita she rounded up. The "New Eviston Main Force Patrol." Luke chuckled and took another drag.

Sarah told the group to kill ten zombies each, and Luke did the math. Some people were going to have to do some push-ups. There probably weren't 100 zombies near this place. Once she told them to get to work, Luke saw as the recruits fired over the wall. He couldn't see if they hit them or not, but they most likely missed. He finished his cigarette and tossed it onto the dirt, and stomped on it with his boot.

Luke walked over to Sarah who was watching the group's progress. He looked over the wall and saw a dozen corpses. This place would stink if somone didn't drag those away. Luke looked at Sarah and spoke. "So, is there a reason you have half mr ARs and half the compound gunning down every zombie at the gates?"

[Wallenburg]

Hugh Garmany || Archbold, Ohio || Day 29

A dry wind pushed leaves across the deserted country road and sent chills up Hugh's back. He walked with a gas jug over to a large truck and started siphoning for gas. After several long, futile drags on a rubber pipe, he gave up. The tanks were dry. Standing up from the side of the slowly rusting vehicle, Hugh watched a paper skitter down the old, poorly-paved road. A couple more followed it, capturing Hugh's curiosity. Walking further along the road, towards the center of the village, Hugh saw that the wall of a gas station had been studded with hundreds of papers. Running over, unsure of what to think, Hugh read the papers.

Marie Carson: LOST
PLEASE HELP

Have You Seen This Child?

REWARD IN MONEY, FOOD, OR SUPPLIES
Location of Jimmy Peters
Location of Maddie Peters
Information about Cleveland

TAYLOR
Ken and Barbara heading for Chicago
Barbara got bit. Chicago has fallen.

The papers, some of them handwritten, most of them moldy or hard to read, all screamed out for help. He felt his chest moan as his ribs tried to heal. Wincing in pain, both physical and mental, Hugh pulled himself from the wall and headed back to the SUV, where he found that his friends had collected a nice amount of fuel, enough to make it at least across Ohio, if they didn't encounter any major problems. When Lauren walked up to him he caught her in a brief embrace, but decided not to talk about the papers.

"Quiet town, huh?" said Lauren.

Hugh nodded, "Yea, I guess the infection didn't get here before people started moving. I'm surprised they didn't try to hole up here."

"Maybe they did," Lauren suggested, turning her head towards a pair of cars largely blocking one of the roads.

"Maybe they did."

They climbed into the car and drove back to the interstate, turning east again, with the papers slowly drifting behind them.

[New Grestin]

// DAY 29 // 1:45 PM // NEW EVANSTON //

Sarah, Paulson, Ian, and Alison stood around in the med-tent. Rain pattered down onto the compound, black from soot and debris. Lighting and thunder clattered overhead. The room was cold was Sarah tossed her cigarette aside and spoke.

"Now, here's the deal. Somehow, Atlas is involved."

Alan gave her an odd look.

"What, the pharmaceutical company?"
"Yeah."
"How do you know?"

Paulson spoke up.

"I found a flash drive on one of the Hazmats. It had all kinds of data on it. Crazy shit, testing logs, incident reports, that kind of thing. I think-"

He paused for a moment, sighing.

"I think they may have created the virus."

The words seemed to hang in the room. Everyone was deathly silent. Alison shook her head, Ian became solemn. Alan finally broke the silence.

"This is crazy."

Sarah sighed.

"I know it does, but now the new guy gave us a hard-drive with-"

Paulson cut in, his voice trembling.

"With even more info. Namely, their contract with the United States government."

Sarah nodded, then spoke again.

"Which is why I believe we need to establish a dedicated security force. Probably about ten people or so. If this shit is true, then we're in real danger."

Alan nodded.

"We've got at least five on permanent guard duty. Me, Ian, Hank, Ali and you could fill out the rest."

Sarah smiled.

"Exactly what I had in mind."

---

// DAY 29 // 2:10 PM // NEW EVANSTON //

Ten people stood before Sarah, milling about. Hank, the preacher. Ian, her second in command. Alan, the Sheriff. Then Alison, a mechanic. Among them were five others, pulled from the rest of the group. Sarah looked them over, then, in an authoritative tone, spoke.

"Ladies, Gentlemen, thank you for joining us. I've brought you all here because circumstances require us to have a dedicated, trained security force. You'll be responsible for compound security, supply runs, and, if it comes down to it, defending against attack. This group will be called the New Evanston Main Force Patrol."

There was a moment of silence, then Alison spoke.

"That's dumb."

Sarah rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, well, when you're in charge, you can call it whatever you want."

Sarah brought her hands behind her back and spoke once more.

"Now, we're going to run some drills, just to see where everyone's at. I want you all to grab an AR and meet me at the gate in five minutes. Grab suppressors while you're at it."

The group looked amongst themselves. Sarah gestured to a table she'd set up with a menagerie of assault rifles and carbines. Each member grabbed one and followed her to the gate, a bucket of improvised silencers clinking in her hand. Sarah stood on the wall, looking out over the road. There was a small horde of infected headed down the road. Sarah grabbed a rifle from one of the men and slid a suppressor onto it. She laid down, taking aim and squeezing the trigger. The round struck true, blasting the zed's brains across the pavement. With that, she stood up and looked to the men.

"I want each of you to grab a suppressor, find a spot, and kill ten zeds each. If you kill less than ten, you owe me a hundred push-ups. Everyone understand?"

Some of them nodded, others looked confused. Sarah smiled.

"Get to work, folks."

Luke was puzzled when he returned from a bathroom break and saw on the log book that Sarah had checked out a lot of assault riffles. Luke went into a drawer where he found some smokes earlier and pulled one out. He exited the building, and light a cigarette. He leaned on the wall as Sarah gave instructions to the milita she rounded up. The "New Eviston Main Force Patrol." Luke chuckled and took another drag.

Sarah told the group to kill ten zombies each, and Luke did the math. Some people were going to have to do some push-ups. There probably weren't 100 zombies near this place. Once she told them to get to work, Luke saw as the recruits fired over the wall. He couldn't see if they hit them or not, but they most likely missed. He finished his cigarette and tossed it onto the dirt, and stomped on it with his boot.

Luke walked over to Sarah who was watching the group's progress. He looked over the wall and saw a dozen corpses. This place would stink if somone didn't drag those away. Luke looked at Sarah and spoke. "So, is there a reason you have half mr ARs and half the compound gunning down every zombie at the gates?"

"Target practice."

Sarah smiled, sitting on the edge of the wall and looking down at LaForge. She dangled her legs as she spoke.

"We don't have a dedicated security force. I'm rectifying the issue and getting a little zed cleanup in the process."

She looked back, catching Hank as he pegged one of the zeds at forty yards.

"Excellent shot, bible. We might just have found somethin' you're good at."

Hank eased off the rifle, laughed, and flipped her off. Sarah rolled her eyes and looked back to LaForge.

"Why, you want in or something? I don't know if I've got another uniform sitting around..."

[Australian Antarctica]

Luke was puzzled when he returned from a bathroom break and saw on the log book that Sarah had checked out a lot of assault riffles. Luke went into a drawer where he found some smokes earlier and pulled one out. He exited the building, and light a cigarette. He leaned on the wall as Sarah gave instructions to the milita she rounded up. The "New Eviston Main Force Patrol." Luke chuckled and took another drag.

Sarah told the group to kill ten zombies each, and Luke did the math. Some people were going to have to do some push-ups. There probably weren't 100 zombies near this place. Once she told them to get to work, Luke saw as the recruits fired over the wall. He couldn't see if they hit them or not, but they most likely missed. He finished his cigarette and tossed it onto the dirt, and stomped on it with his boot.

Luke walked over to Sarah who was watching the group's progress. He looked over the wall and saw a dozen corpses. This place would stink if somone didn't drag those away. Luke looked at Sarah and spoke. "So, is there a reason you have half mr ARs and half the compound gunning down every zombie at the gates?"

"Target practice."

Sarah smiled, sitting on the edge of the wall and looking down at LaForge. She dangled her legs as she spoke.

"We don't have a dedicated security force. I'm rectifying the issue and getting a little zed cleanup in the process."

She looked back, catching Hank as he pegged one of the zeds at forty yards.

"Excellent shot, bible. We might just have found somethin' you're good at."

Hank eased off the rifle, laughed, and flipped her off. Sarah rolled her eyes and looked back to LaForge.

"Why, you want in or something? I don't know if I've got another uniform sitting around..."

Vincent couldn't read with all the shooting outside. Shooting?!? he thought with a sense of urgency Are we being attacked? Quickly he jumped form the bed, wincing at his still sore ankle. Throwing on the vest and helmet he ran outside, only to see what looked to be soldiers shooting at Infected over the wall. He assumed it was a Defense force of some sort. Then Vince noticed one man, shooting an AR. Well, not shooting. Trying to at least. He would pull the trigger and nothing would happen. Shaking his head, Vincent walked over "Having troubles?"
The man nodded "This fuckin' thing won't work"
"Mind if I see it?"
"I dunno. She might get pissed"
"Just let me see"
"It's your funeral man" The man said, reluctantly handing Vincent the AR
Vincent tinkered with a moment, finding the top bullet nothing more than a dud, missing the primer. With the grace of a trained marksman he slapped the mag back in, ejected the bad round, and fired a quick burst, shredding two Infected heads "Here ya go"
"Thanks"

[New Grestin]

"Target practice."

Sarah smiled, sitting on the edge of the wall and looking down at LaForge. She dangled her legs as she spoke.

"We don't have a dedicated security force. I'm rectifying the issue and getting a little zed cleanup in the process."

She looked back, catching Hank as he pegged one of the zeds at forty yards.

"Excellent shot, bible. We might just have found somethin' you're good at."

Hank eased off the rifle, laughed, and flipped her off. Sarah rolled her eyes and looked back to LaForge.

"Why, you want in or something? I don't know if I've got another uniform sitting around..."

Vincent couldn't read with all the shooting outside. Shooting?!? he thought with a sense of urgency Are we being attacked? Quickly he jumped form the bed, wincing at his still sore ankle. Throwing on the vest and helmet he ran outside, only to see what looked to be soldiers shooting at Infected over the wall. He assumed it was a Defense force of some sort. Then Vince noticed one man, shooting an AR. Well, not shooting. Trying to at least. He would pull the trigger and nothing would happen. Shaking his head, Vincent walked over "Having troubles?"
The man nodded "This fuckin' thing won't work"
"Mind if I see it?"
"I dunno. She might get pissed"
"Just let me see"
"It's your funeral man" The man said, reluctantly handing Vincent the AR
Vincent tinkered with a moment, finding the top bullet nothing more than a dud, missing the primer. With the grace of a trained marksman he slapped the mag back in, ejected the bad round, and fired a quick burst, shredding two Infected heads "Here ya go"
"Thanks"

Sarah watched as Vincent stepped up onto the platform, still toughing it out with the bad ankle, apparently. She rolled her eyes. Sarah watched him help one of the MFP with his rifle. She smiled. At least he's making himself useful. She looked him over for a moment, then spoke.

"Thanks."

She stood, walking over to him.

"For the record, I know I was a bit of an asshole earlier, but you gotta understand my position here. It's not a matter of my own safety, really. And I-"

She heard one of the rounds strike something metal. She turned back just in time to see one of the recruits had shot an old car. The alarm blared loudly, drawing all the infected towards it. She sighed. This. This is going to take some time. She looked back to Vincent.

"Christ. I thought this was going to be easier. Look, they're handing out lunch by the dorms. It's a pork MRE or something. Go get yourself something to eat."

She patted him on the shoulder, smiling.

[Australian Antarctica]

Vincent couldn't read with all the shooting outside. Shooting?!? he thought with a sense of urgency Are we being attacked? Quickly he jumped form the bed, wincing at his still sore ankle. Throwing on the vest and helmet he ran outside, only to see what looked to be soldiers shooting at Infected over the wall. He assumed it was a Defense force of some sort. Then Vince noticed one man, shooting an AR. Well, not shooting. Trying to at least. He would pull the trigger and nothing would happen. Shaking his head, Vincent walked over "Having troubles?"
The man nodded "This fuckin' thing won't work"
"Mind if I see it?"
"I dunno. She might get pissed"
"Just let me see"
"It's your funeral man" The man said, reluctantly handing Vincent the AR
Vincent tinkered with a moment, finding the top bullet nothing more than a dud, missing the primer. With the grace of a trained marksman he slapped the mag back in, ejected the bad round, and fired a quick burst, shredding two Infected heads "Here ya go"
"Thanks"

Sarah watched as Vincent stepped up onto the platform, still toughing it out with the bad ankle, apparently. She rolled her eyes. Sarah watched him help one of the MFP with his rifle. She smiled. At least he's making himself useful. She looked him over for a moment, then spoke.

"Thanks."

She stood, walking over to him.

"For the record, I know I was a bit of an asshole earlier, but you gotta understand my position here. It's not a matter of my own safety, really. And I-"

She heard one of the rounds strike something metal. She turned back just in time to see one of the recruits had shot an old car. The alarm blared loudly, drawing all the infected towards it. She sighed. This. This is going to take some time. She looked back to Vincent.

"Christ. I thought this was going to be easier. Look, they're handing out lunch by the dorms. It's a pork MRE or something. Go get yourself something to eat."

She patted him on the shoulder, smiling.

Vincent looked at her smile, not completely trusting her "Not a problem. And my ankle's better, honestly. I ran over here didn't I?" Vincent was unsure about her. Sarah's eyes were always unnerving, almost soulless. He mentally shook his head. He was being paranoid, wasn't he?

[New Grestin]

"Not a problem. And my ankle's better, honestly. I ran over here didn't I?"

Sarah shrugged. The rain had finally relented for a moment, now it was only lightly sprinkling, thankfully. Sarah grabbed the beanie from her head and patted it off. Peppery soot fell to the ground at her feet. She slid it back onto her head and looked back to Vincent.

"Sure. Sure."

Under her breath, she mumbled something.

"Whatever you say."

Checking her watch, she looked back at Vincent. She'd never noticed it before, but he was visibly uncomfortable when they made eye contact. Either he was scared shitless, or just really socially awkward. She couldn't figure out which. She smiled and spoke.

"Actually, I've got a project for you. You think you can rig up a couple riot shields? We've got the uniforms together, but we could use a couple shields for close combat. They'll come in handy"

[Australian Antarctica]

"Not a problem. And my ankle's better, honestly. I ran over here didn't I?"

Sarah shrugged. The rain had finally relented for a moment, now it was only lightly sprinkling, thankfully. Sarah grabbed the beanie from her head and patted it off. Peppery soot fell to the ground at her feet. She slid it back onto her head and looked back to Vincent.

"Sure. Sure."

Under her breath, she mumbled something.

"Whatever you say."

Checking her watch, she looked back at Vincent. She'd never noticed it before, but he was visibly uncomfortable when they made eye contact. Either he was scared shitless, or just really socially awkward. She couldn't figure out which. She smiled and spoke.

"Actually, I've got a project for you. You think you can rig up a couple riot shields? We've got the uniforms together, but we could use a couple shields for close combat. They'll come in handy"

Vincent had learned to have a good sense of hearing, having to watch his back all throughout school. He had heard what Sarah said, but held his tongue, not wanting her to go completely 'apeshit'. Instead he responded to her question "Do you have any Plexiglas and PVC?"

[New Grestin]

"Not a problem. And my ankle's better, honestly. I ran over here didn't I?"

Sarah shrugged. The rain had finally relented for a moment, now it was only lightly sprinkling, thankfully. Sarah grabbed the beanie from her head and patted it off. Peppery soot fell to the ground at her feet. She slid it back onto her head and looked back to Vincent.

"Sure. Sure."

Under her breath, she mumbled something.

"Whatever you say."

Checking her watch, she looked back at Vincent. She'd never noticed it before, but he was visibly uncomfortable when they made eye contact. Either he was scared shitless, or just really socially awkward. She couldn't figure out which. She smiled and spoke.

"Actually, I've got a project for you. You think you can rig up a couple riot shields? We've got the uniforms together, but we could use a couple shields for close combat. They'll come in handy"

Vincent had learned to have a good sense of hearing, having to watch his back all throughout school. He had heard what Sarah said, but held his tongue, not wanting her to go completely 'apeshit'. Instead he responded to her question "Do you have any Plexiglas and PVC?"

Sarah paused for a moment, then turned back towards the gate.

"Hey, Ian."

Ian stood and sauntered over to the edge of the platform.

"Yeah, what's up?"
"We got any Plexiglas or PVC sitting around?"
"Um, I think there's a scrap pile behind the Dorms. Might be some there."
"Thanks."

Sticking her hands in her pockets, Sarah smiled at Vincent.

"There. Anything else?"

She smiled at him. The rain was still very light, but she could hear thunder in the distance. It was probably going to start pouring again. As she looked at him, she took great care to maintain eye contact. He was visibly uncomfortable, and she was going to exploit the shit out of that.

[Australian Antarctica]

Vincent had learned to have a good sense of hearing, having to watch his back all throughout school. He had heard what Sarah said, but held his tongue, not wanting her to go completely 'apeshit'. Instead he responded to her question "Do you have any Plexiglas and PVC?"

Sarah paused for a moment, then turned back towards the gate.

"Hey, Ian."

Ian stood and sauntered over to the edge of the platform.

"Yeah, what's up?"
"We got any Plexiglas or PVC sitting around?"
"Um, I think there's a scrap pile behind the Dorms. Might be some there."
"Thanks."

Sticking her hands in her pockets, Sarah smiled at Vincent.

"There. Anything else?"

She smiled at him. The rain was still very light, but she could hear thunder in the distance. It was probably going to start pouring again. As she looked at him, she took great care to maintain eye contact. He was visibly uncomfortable, and she was going to exploit the shit out of that.

Vincent had known the only way to deal with bullies was to show them you didn't fear them. Instead of avoiding eye contact he met her gaze, hardly blinking ( ). He responded after a moment "Not that I know of, anything else you want?"

[Tayner]

Luke was puzzled when he returned from a bathroom break and saw on the log book that Sarah had checked out a lot of assault riffles. Luke went into a drawer where he found some smokes earlier and pulled one out. He exited the building, and light a cigarette. He leaned on the wall as Sarah gave instructions to the milita she rounded up. The "New Eviston Main Force Patrol." Luke chuckled and took another drag.

Sarah told the group to kill ten zombies each, and Luke did the math. Some people were going to have to do some push-ups. There probably weren't 100 zombies near this place. Once she told them to get to work, Luke saw as the recruits fired over the wall. He couldn't see if they hit them or not, but they most likely missed. He finished his cigarette and tossed it onto the dirt, and stomped on it with his boot.

Luke walked over to Sarah who was watching the group's progress. He looked over the wall and saw a dozen corpses. This place would stink if somone didn't drag those away. Luke looked at Sarah and spoke. "So, is there a reason you have half mr ARs and half the compound gunning down every zombie at the gates?"

"Target practice."

Sarah smiled, sitting on the edge of the wall and looking down at LaForge. She dangled her legs as she spoke.

"We don't have a dedicated security force. I'm rectifying the issue and getting a little zed cleanup in the process."

She looked back, catching Hank as he pegged one of the zeds at forty yards.

"Excellent shot, bible. We might just have found somethin' you're good at."

Hank eased off the rifle, laughed, and flipped her off. Sarah rolled her eyes and looked back to LaForge.

"Why, you want in or something? I don't know if I've got another uniform sitting around..."

"Do I want in?" Luke said repeating Sarah's question. "If I got in, everyone else here would be doing a hundred push-ups today." Luke said with a chuckle. "Yeah, I'll join. But I want a promotion." Luke said. "Seeing as how I already have combat experience, I want to lead a team into Chicago on a supply run to Midway International Airport. I got supplies in my truck there that would make a nice addition to the armory."

[New Grestin]

Sarah paused for a moment, then turned back towards the gate.

"Hey, Ian."

Ian stood and sauntered over to the edge of the platform.

"Yeah, what's up?"
"We got any Plexiglas or PVC sitting around?"
"Um, I think there's a scrap pile behind the Dorms. Might be some there."
"Thanks."

Sticking her hands in her pockets, Sarah smiled at Vincent.

"There. Anything else?"

She smiled at him. The rain was still very light, but she could hear thunder in the distance. It was probably going to start pouring again. As she looked at him, she took great care to maintain eye contact. He was visibly uncomfortable, and she was going to exploit the shit out of that.

Vincent had known the only way to deal with bullies was to show them you didn't fear them. Instead of avoiding eye contact he met her gaze, hardly blinking ( :shock: ). He responded after a moment "Not that I know of, anything else you want?"

"No, that'll be all."

She smiled, turning back to the gate and clambering up. Ian was waiting for her.

"What was that about?"

She shrugged.

"Nothing, hon. He's just a bit...off."
"Huh. No kidding."

Sarah checked over the rest of the recruits. At least four of them would be doing push-ups. She sighed. It was going to be a very long day.

"Target practice."

Sarah smiled, sitting on the edge of the wall and looking down at LaForge. She dangled her legs as she spoke.

"We don't have a dedicated security force. I'm rectifying the issue and getting a little zed cleanup in the process."

She looked back, catching Hank as he pegged one of the zeds at forty yards.

"Excellent shot, bible. We might just have found somethin' you're good at."

Hank eased off the rifle, laughed, and flipped her off. Sarah rolled her eyes and looked back to LaForge.

"Why, you want in or something? I don't know if I've got another uniform sitting around..."

"Do I want in?" Luke said repeating Sarah's question. "If I got in, everyone else here would be doing a hundred push-ups today." Luke said with a chuckle. "Yeah, I'll join. But I want a promotion." Luke said. "Seeing as how I already have combat experience, I want to lead a team into Chicago on a supply run to Midway International Airport. I got supplies in my truck there that would make a nice addition to the armory."

Sarah looked over to LaForge, Ian standing just behind her. She slid down from the platform, landing with a light thud. She crossed her arms as she walked over to LaForge. Pausing for a moment, she then spoke.

"Look, I'll cut you a deal. I'll go with you on the supply run. We can bring a couple of the recruits with. If things go well, you can consider yourself promoted."

[Australian Antarctica]

Vincent turned around, feeling the gaze of Sarah and Ian on his back. Probably calling him a freak. Nothing new there. It made him chuckle actually. Even in the end, people will still be assholes. Pushing the thoughts out of his head as Vincent got to the scrap pile, he got to work. First he cut the Plexiglas into 10 equal sized shields. Next he went to the Storage shed and mixed a few chemicals into a hardening solution. After that he placed the PVC around the edge of each of the shields, then coated them in the solution. Finally the took a few old door handles and bolted them to the Shields. Vince nodded at his handiwork, testing it by stomping and slamming it against the cement wall. It worked perfectly. After storing them in the Armory, he headed back to his bunk, resuming his book.

[Tayner]

Vincent had known the only way to deal with bullies was to show them you didn't fear them. Instead of avoiding eye contact he met her gaze, hardly blinking ( ). He responded after a moment "Not that I know of, anything else you want?"

"No, that'll be all."

She smiled, turning back to the gate and clambering up. Ian was waiting for her.

"What was that about?"

She shrugged.

"Nothing, hon. He's just a bit...off."
"Huh. No kidding."

Sarah checked over the rest of the recruits. At least four of them would be doing push-ups. She sighed. It was going to be a very long day.

"Do I want in?" Luke said repeating Sarah's question. "If I got in, everyone else here would be doing a hundred push-ups today." Luke said with a chuckle. "Yeah, I'll join. But I want a promotion." Luke said. "Seeing as how I already have combat experience, I want to lead a team into Chicago on a supply run to Midway International Airport. I got supplies in my truck there that would make a nice addition to the armory."

Sarah looked over to LaForge, Ian standing just behind her. She slid down from the platform, landing with a light thud. She crossed her arms as she walked over to LaForge. Pausing for a moment, she then spoke.

"Look, I'll cut you a deal. I'll go with you on the supply run. We can bring a couple of the recruits with. If things go well, you can consider yourself promoted."

"It should go well. We take the semi truck, go to the airport, load up my truck because I bet some asshole siphoned out the fuel, and bring it back. Hell, if it wasn't a zombie apocalypse out there, I could do it alone." Luke said to Sarah. He then looked to Vincent. "Build a brother a riot shield?" Just before he walked away.

[Cumberlanda]

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.

Hans woke up about an hour later, accidentally falling asleep in his chair. He got up and slung his gun on his back, walking towards the bed Charlotte was in. He looked at her cautiously, wondering if she was infected, in the sense of apocalypse infection, and not, as it was clearly, a bacterial infection. He noticed the job done by Jenkins. Good field work, but no use of the first aid antibiotics that they procured. He pulled out a kit and located an ointment. The generic version of Neosporin, he guessed. He lifted the clothing from the wound carefully, and looked at her.

"Poor girl, this may hurt worse than the knife that did this."

He then rubbed a bit on the wound, just waiting for the moment she woke up in agony. This reminded him of the time his son fell off the house back home, and had a stick jammed in his arm. It hurt him worse to see him hurt, than it was for Sam to get jabbed by the branch. He still remembered the words he said that day, the words he now found himself speaking to a stranger.

"Be brave, young one. This is just a fall. We all fall. Fall down seven times, get up eight. Be brave. Bravery is contagious."

[Actan]

New Evanston

One thing that was quite apparent in the post-apocalypse was the absolute quiet. Even the car Luther was using seemed like monstrous machine compared to the backdrop of nothing but wind and the trees swaying in it. His entire trip, carefully avoiding highways, Luther was afraid his car would bring attention to him and alert raiders or mutants.

Eventually, Luther stopped the car and reread the map, trying to figure out where he was. At this point, he heard a cacophony of gunshots, mutant screams, and car alarms over to the east. Pulling the car over into a heap of abandoned vehicles to make it blend in, he quietly advanced towards the origin of the noise.

As he summited a small hill, Luther could see movement in the distance. Looking through the scope of his rifle, he could tell that there was a mass of dead mutant bodies near a small wall, with people patrolling said wall and its interior. They didn't seem like raiders, at least, to Luther they didn't - there were no human bodies or signs of tortured prisoners. They also obviously weren't military, with many dressed in civilian clothing, or police uniforms.

Slinging the rifle back over his shoulder, Luther decided that now would be the time to establish contact with another group. He would need to eventually, and he could use the car he had as collateral to prove he was trustworthy if need be.

Finally, he moved towards the gate, as a storm was coming, and he would rather be inside.

[Australian Antarctica]

Vincent finished the book, tucking it in his bag to return later. Not much time had passed, so he decided to go for a walk. Wandering for a little bit, his ankle not hurting much at all anymore, he came across Jean and Henry, talking in hushed tones. "The hell you two up to?" Vince asked, also in a low voice.

[New Grestin]

"It should go well. We take the semi truck, go to the airport, load up my truck because I bet some asshole siphoned out the fuel, and bring it back. Hell, if it wasn't a zombie apocalypse out there, I could do it alone."

Sarah smiled.

"Alright. I can get a crew together. Just let me know when you're ready to leave."

With that, she turned back to the recruits. In an authoritative tone, she spoke.

"You're relieved for the day. We'll pick this up again later. Alan, Ian, you're with me."

The group slowly broke apart, fading off into other parts of the compound to eat lunch. The three stood around, the light patter of the rain clinking off their armor. Alan spoke.

"So, what's going on?"

Sarah crossed her arms and motioned for them to follow. They made their way towards the garage, Alison and Hank watching them from the gates as they walked inside. As Sarah donned a set of MFP gear, she spoke.

"LaForge wants to go on a supply run to get to his truck. Supposedly, he's got some decent gear. I'm letting him command part of the Patrol if this goes well."

Ian raised an eyebrow.

"That redneck? Can we trust him?"
"Yeah. He's alright. Suit up and get the weapons together. Alan?"

He stood at attention.

"Get the semi fueled up and ready."

She grabbed an assault rifle from one of the lockers, racking the bolt as she spoke.

"I want this one to go smooth as butter. No crazy shit, just in and out."

Ian smiled, adjusting his armor.

"Yeah, yeah. Ma'am."

Sarah smiled, leaning over and kissing him. The two stood together for a moment.

"Just, please be careful."
"I know, I know."

Alan cut them off.

"Uh, whenever you two are ready. Just saying."
"Yeah, right. Let's get going."

---

-snip-

Alison and Hank watched as the man approached, weapons at the ready. Once he was close enough, Alison called out to him. The two were unsure of what to think as he got closer.

"Hey, buddy. You got business here?"

[Beiarusia]

Samantha Tallow

Langham Hotel, Chicago // Day 19

Sam was sitting alone in the hotel suite, crosslegged atop her bed and with a book resting in her lap, eyes scanning the page with little interest. For the last two weeks the Langham had become her home, the girl blissfully ignorant of the world outside. Father had seen to it that she was comfortable, hiding away the worry that his daughter saw when he knew not that she was looking. Sam had pried for information but her father had waved away her fears. Everything was fine, and if it wasn’t then he would take care of it. Something terrible had happened, that much was clear, but the girl was content to waste her time in the hotel with little care otherwise, rereading a book that she had finished thrice already.

It was growing late, the late summer sun setting low in the west, still visible from the upper floors. Dying orange light filtered in from through the curtains, darkness taking hold inside the room. Sam paused in her reading, looking first to the curtain and then back to her book, sliding from her position on the bed and approaching the window, laying her book aside with little effort to mark her place. Pulling back the curtain the last remnants of day pushed into the room, the girl blinking back the brightness in order to gaze out across the ailing city. Military vehicles paraded up and down the gridded streets, crowds of angry men and women held back with the threat of lethal force, shouting obscenities or begging for aid. Some measure of control was still in place for the time being, the government racing to patch the cracks as they emerged before disorder could fully take hold. An uneasy peace that Sam held witness to from her window vantage, intrinsically a part of the growing crisis but so far removed to be an outsider.

The girl turned away from the sight, closing the curtain and moving pass the bed and towards the light switch, artificial light beating back the coming night. Resigned to continue on in her monotonous reading Sam was interrupted by the arrival of her father, him standing half in the doorway and half out as he spoke hurriedly with a man wearing a suit similar in appearance to his own. Conversation finished with a curt statement Colin Tallow turned and was slightly startled to find his daughter standing not ten feet away, watching intently with cerulean eyes like that of the sea, unnaturally silent with not so much as a whisper of sound to have marked her presence. Colin closed the door before making a quick gesture with his hands. Pack. We’re leaving.

Sam wanted to question the sudden decision to leave but did as she was told, packing what few things needed packed and quickly dressing, practically having to crawl underneath the bed to find the second of her pair of furry boots. Her father was waiting for the girl by the door, the man from earlier with him. By how they were acting Sam quickly deduced that something was wrong but refrained from prying further, trusting her father completely. Colin patted his daughter on the head and led her from the room, following after the man who moved with forceful strides.

The elevator ride down to the ground floor was uncomfortably tense.

Neither man spoke, Colin habitually checking his pocket watch while his compatriot stared up to the floor counter as the number slowly decreased. Sam stood behind them, shifting her weight from one foot to the other, duffle bag heavy on her shoulder.

“The city’s fucked,” muttered the man, his foot nervously tapping away.

“That memo’s two weeks late,” Colin dryly retorted, pocketing his watch. He readjusted his glasses before speaking again, glancing to his daughter from the corner of his eyes. “How bad is it?”

“Remember the riots about a week back?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s worse.”

The elevator finally came to a stop, the doors sliding open to greet the occupants with near chaos in the main lobby. Upperclass men and women, having hid away from the worse of the quarantine, quickly shuffled about as if in a daze, the few remaining hotel staff helping to corral them to wherever it was they were needed, suitcases and travel bags dragged along in the building bedlam. Officers stood at the entrance, dead eyed and exhausted beyond their years, uniforms disheveled. Panic had finally taken hold on the streets, a riot quickly sweeping throughout the city once more, the military having long since abandoned its tenuous hold on Chicago.

Sam took hold of her father’s sleeve as they navigated the lobby, pushing their way through to a small corridor leading to a side entrance that would, in most cases, be overlooked. Outside were several SUV’s. Sam and her father were seated in the lead vehicle where another aged man awaited, speaking into his cellphone with a hushed but forceful voice. Ending the call, he nodded towards Colin who took the seat beside him, Sam crawling into the rearmost seat. Another man sat beside the driver, a weapon held discreetly in his lap. In a few moments they had departed, the SUV jostling onto the crowded street.

“Good to see you, Tallow,” greeted the greying man, a higher-up in the company and someone with much clout, being one of the few having had the option to break the quarantine if he had so wished. Perhaps mistakenly he had remained in Chicago for whatever reasons.

Colin offered a brief reply before asking, “Where’s Tanner?”

The man waved away Colin’s worry. “Tanner has business to attend to. Once he’s finished he’ll meet with us. In short time we’ll be well enough away from this damnable city.”

The answer did little to reassure the Brit.

The man groaned, glancing back to Sam and then back to Colin. “Look, I know you have a lot a question and I respect you enough to give you the answers, but not now. Once we’re in the air I’ll tell you everything you want to know and then some.”

Colin met the eyes of the man, unblinking. He made to say something but, in the end, remained silent.

Sam watched the exchange, eyeing both men in turn as they spoke, eavesdropping without listening. As the conversation died away she instead turned her gaze to that of the city passing before them, finding the view much worse at street level than it had been from her window perch. Mobs were in the opening stages of a riot and looters were well underway to smashing through what little there remained to be taken. A weakened police force had given up all hopes of containing the mess, most having abandoned their posts long ago.

A woman stood on the corner, tearing into some poor soul with animalistic fury, the blood a stark scarlet against the grey city. Sam quickly turned away, not sure what she had just seen but knowing that it would be best to avert her eyes. Beside her in the seat lay a laptop bag, the corporate logo that Sam was well accustomed to emblazoned proudly on the front: a red globe with the letter A in the center.

She never saw the truck that blindsided them. There was only a moment of the world inverting and then blackness.

New Evanston // Day 29

Sam awoke with a start, heart racing, her own arms holding tight to her body. It took a moment but she soon placed herself inside the dorms at New Evanston, the compound ran by Sarah, curled atop a cot that, while not exceedingly comfortable, was decidedly better than her previous sleeping arrangements. Gone was the city of Chicago. Gone was her father and the man that had for so long been his superior. Just the lingering effects of the nightmare – for that was what memories were to the girl now – and the emptiness of lost.

The girl slowly roused herself, looking about and finding herself alone once more, a common occurrence lately. With a sigh, and knowing that she would not be able to slip back into sleep, Sam tore herself from the bed and stretched, feeling noticeably more tired than before her nap. The day was still young and, perhaps, there would be something for her to do around the compound, something to distract herself from, sadly, herself, though she was certain that there would be little for which she could help with.

Intending to simply wander about the compound some more, Sam caught sight of Foley’s marpat backpack and, on a whim, decided to search through it, having not had the time previously. Dragging it onto the cot with her, the girl repositioned herself so that she was sitting comfortably and began her rummaging, finding several items of varying usefulness: a GPS, folding knife, blanket, a pair of gloves, and another radio with half dead batteries. There was also a picture of younger Foley with several men she could only assume were soldiers. Finding nothing else within the main cavity Sam reached into the front pocket, pausing as her hand touched cold steel. Slowly, and after making sure that she was truly alone, she pulled free a handgun, the weapon seeming comically large in her dainty hands as she examined it. The girl studied the surprising find for a second longer before returning it to the pocket along with everything else, zipping close the backpack before sitting it beside her cot, slightly pushed beneath.

Standing, Sam made her way outside, blank faced and with little intent behind where she wandered. A fleeting thought to return to the refrigerator for various reasons, one which she gave considerable thought as she made her way to storage regardless.

[Actan]

Alison and Hank watched as the man approached, weapons at the ready. Once he was close enough, Alison called out to him. The two were unsure of what to think as he got closer.

"Hey, buddy. You got business here?"

Luther quickly froze, dropped his rifle, and raised his hands.

"I'm just looking for a group to survive in. I haven't had anybody, and I know this kind of a situation is gonna get people like me killed if I hoof it alone. I've got a rifle, know how to shoot it , and would be willing to help any group I can. Can I join with you guys? Feel free to shoot me if you think I've betrayed you, or something."

[Dubrovka]

After Desmond was done talking with Sarah, he waited in the garage for some time. He thought about the supplies he wold need to bring with him to reach Northwestern University. He knew that his parents were dead inside but he had to make sure, for his own sanity. Desmond looked down and Max, which was sitting down leaning against Desmonds leg panting. He reached down and scratched his dog behind the ear. Max closed his eyes for a second and held a constant dog smile. After Desmond stopped, some men walked in with the supplies he traded for. 7lbs of Dog Kibble, 2lbs of wet food, 1 gallon of water, 3 cans of spam, and 1 magazine of 5.56 ammuntion for his AR-15. He was content with this, because he traded a hard drive which wasn't helping him at all for despretly needed supplies.

He packed the food on Max's pack and put the water, spam, and ammo in his own. Desmond now carried roughly 30 pounds on him, while Max carried roughly 10 pounds. They were both over loaded, but Desmond knew he would need all his supplies to survive. He called his dog and started the walk out of the garage. As he walked out a man came over and told him that Sarah had cleared him to stay the night if he wanted. Desmond agreed, knowing both himself and his dog were a bit burnt out from their travels. Desmond asked "Where could I stay? Is there a barracks or common room I can stay in?". The man nodded and pointed down the road. Desmond thanked him and told him to pass his gratitude onto Sarah.

They walked down the road the way the man pointed and eventually found a few people crowded around a small apartment block. "This must be the common room" Desmond thought. He walked inside and meandered around inside until he found an empty room on the second floor. He walked in and looked around for a minute or so, making sure it was safe. It seemed stupid in hindsight, but Desmond had always been wary of unfarmiler places since the outbreak. After he determined that it was safe, he closed the door and set his backpack down near it. He knelled down and unhooked Max's pack too and placed it near his own. It was a strange feeling not having 30 pounds weighing him down. He felt light, and fast. He sat down on the nearby bed and patted it to get Max to jump up onto it. Max jumped up and Desmond sat there for awhile stroking his head. Once Max fell asleep, Desmond soon nodded off too. It was much needed rest, and they were enjoying every minute of it.

[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.

Hans woke up about an hour later, accidentally falling asleep in his chair. He got up and slung his gun on his back, walking towards the bed Charlotte was in. He looked at her cautiously, wondering if she was infected, in the sense of apocalypse infection, and not, as it was clearly, a bacterial infection. He noticed the job done by Jenkins. Good field work, but no use of the first aid antibiotics that they procured. He pulled out a kit and located an ointment. The generic version of Neosporin, he guessed. He lifted the clothing from the wound carefully, and looked at her.

"Poor girl, this may hurt worse than the knife that did this."

He then rubbed a bit on the wound, just waiting for the moment she woke up in agony. This reminded him of the time his son fell off the house back home, and had a stick jammed in his arm. It hurt him worse to see him hurt, than it was for Sam to get jabbed by the branch. He still remembered the words he said that day, the words he now found himself speaking to a stranger.

"Be brave, young one. This is just a fall. We all fall. Fall down seven times, get up eight. Be brave. Bravery is contagious."

She cried out in agony, tensing up as the pain lanced through her. She stared at him, vision blurry... was it Hans... or was it someone else? She couldn't tell... She managed to whisper a single word. "Why?" She did not realize who it was, her nightmares and delirium combining to produce the fear she felt towards only one person she had ever known, and she was seeing him over her, causing her pain once more. She had no concept that it was someone else, that someone was trying to help her--she felt pain, and she felt fear, and her mind associated that with what the emotions had always been associated with.

[Armeia]

Cade sighed as he walked the building's halls, looking at the small army assembled here. "You think we should stay here?" he asked Ava. She shook her head.

"Things are going to go to shit real quick," she replied. "Look at how tense those... soldiers are. They're practically ready for a civil war."

Cade did see that the college students/soldiers were tense. Very tense. "What the hell is up with that?"

Suddenly, Christie ran back in and a klaxon started blaring. "To the weapons!" she shouted. "We're being attacked by a busfull of Ohio State students!" she screamed, reaching for the nearest AK-101. Cade grabbed an AR-15 and Ava took a M4 carbine and a desert eagle.

"Come on Cade, we've gotta fight..."