Urban Dead: The Price of the Oath

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:32 pm

"Careful," she said. "Don't wat you to fall..." As he was perched rather precariously. She thought his suggestion over.

"Do it," she said with a nod. "If Frank gives you or your people any shit, send him my way."

Pcm979 · Post by **Pcm979** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:35 pm

He nodded. "Thanks. 'Ll be a few hours 'fore I 'n get goin'." And with that, he grabbed a pipe extending from the roof's storm gutter, vaulted over the wall and disappeared over the edge.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:50 pm

She nodded, watched him go. It was the best thing to do while the zombies were distracted, really.

Just be careful, she thought. The boy had already lost his dog. If he lost his best friend in the same day, he might not recover.

Speaking of recovery, she figured a trip down to the infirmary to check on the two recently injured men was in order. Brow furrowed, she realised they hadn't heard from anyone else on Silver's team... And she'd given away her radio... Damn.

With a curse to herself, she started on her way.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:19 am

"I swear, if they're taking a fuck-break in there, I'm going to kill the both of them," Petro muttered under his breath.

Dozens of zombies were crossing the street under their lookout. Steve took a small drink of water, rolling his eyes before he whispered back. "Calm the fuck down, Hero boy."

The old nickname Steve had hung on him after the incident with Gwen rankled as always and gave Petro something new to be irritated about. Precisely as it was supposed to...

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:48 am

Melanie stood atop the cold roof, hands tucked into the pockets of her coat as she eyed the rubble. Some smoke still wafted from a few of the downed buildings, but that was the only sign of life.

And even that ceased as a light snow began to fall, the heavy clouds choking the last of the life from daylight.

This is it, she thought. This is the most important thing you've ever done... That day they tell you that you live the whole start of your life for, isn't it?

But if the situation with Reaper and the internal finese with which she'd handled it was any indicator, then surprisingly enough, she found herself ready for it.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:50 am

"We're ready," Frank said, walking up from behind her. "Ready as we'll ever be." He leaned on the safety wall, gloved hands settling down on the bricks.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:52 am

She nodded, offered him a cigarette as she lit her own.

"The, ehm... That man from earlier... Said we have about two days. Well, about one and a half by now, I'm wagering."

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:53 am

He nodded. "Let everyone get as much sleep as they can, be rested and ready. I don't know if having that much time to anticipate it is good for them, though."

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:55 am

"It's not," she agreed. "They're nervous as hell."

A long pause.

"Has anyone heard from Silver's men?" she asked.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 3:57 am

He gave an abrupt shake of his head. "No. Missing and presumed lost." His expression grew sour, a quirking of his mouth, as he stared out at the perimeter.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:01 am

She looked for a moment as if she'd been punched in the gut.

"Damn," was all she had to say on that matter. Quickly, however, she added: "Silver and the one who made it back; they'll be fine," she said. They'd had to hastily transfuse some blood into Silver from one of their volunteers... That hadn't been pleasant, but Dorian and the Guard had handled it with aplomb.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:03 am

"Good," he said. He looked off in the direction that Petro and the others had departed from.

"I should've gone with them," he said.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:06 am

"Why d'you say that?" she asked, curious. She glanced over toward him, her cheeks and ears red from the cold as the tiny white flakes stuck to her hair and eyelashes.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:07 am

"Before I was the manager and accountant for this madhouse, I was with the 1st," he said, shrugging. "Never mind."

The human lapse quite evidently disturbed him.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:09 am

She shrugged. "You think it would've done them any good?" she asked as she exhaled a puff of smoke. "I don't."

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:10 am

He glanced at her sharply. "As you say, Miss Booth," he said sharply, before turning away and walking off.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:12 am

She turned as well, following him.

"What I mean," she said, "is that compared to the mission they're on--dont die and call someone on a radio--and compared to what we're doing here..."

It was obvious what the conclusion would be.

"We need you here," she said. "Not out there. Not possibly dead."

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:14 am

He turned back toward her. "I'm well aware of that fact. That's why he didn't ask, and I didn't offer."

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:15 am

"Then why the 'nevermind'?" she asked, raising an inquisitive eyebrow. He was smarter than any sort of second-guessing bullshit.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:17 am

"Because this isn't a world that runs on what we want, and there's no point in dwelling on such things. It's simply a waste of time. Like this conversation."

Even for Frank, this was fairly gruff.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:18 am

She took a half-step closer, glancing up at him.

"Then why come up here? Why have it at all?"

For the first time in a while, she wasn't suspicious or worried or tense. Just honest to God curious.

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:20 am

He looked out past her again. "Because I'm not out there to watch out for them this time. Left to their own devices, they're prone to all sorts of idiotic heroic notions." He looked at her, mouth twisting into a frown. "I'm worried about them." The admission practically had to be wrenched out of him.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:29 am

In what was possibly the second most awkward, tentative thing she'd done that day (the first being voluntarily breaking somebody's leg), she slid an arm around his shoulders in a halfhearted side-hug.

"I know, Frank," she said. "I am, too... they're an interesting bunch. Need someone to keep 'em grounded."

Another smokey sigh.

"Of course, I'm worried for personal reasons, too," she said. "It would be hard to do even before the outbreak, raising a baby alone..."

Josh · Post by **Josh** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:32 am

He stiffed at her touch, and patted her quickly on the back before stepping away. "You won't be raising your child alone, regardless," he said. "You're part of the community now."

Before she could think he was being sappy or sentimental, he hasted to continue. "Women of childbearing age and and children are always the first priorities for protection in a survival scenario."

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:34 am

She nodded. "Hence why we're keeping the civvies in their bunker," she said.

"But... Just..." She snorted in frustration. "If I ever have to refer to him in the past tense... God damn him!"

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Urban Dead: The Price of the Oath

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