Urban Dead: The Price of the Oath

[Caz]

As they moved, oddly similar in size to a smaller horde of zombies, Sherry hoped a passing patrol didn't mistake them for just that and start shooting.

She held back a bit until she was side by side with Petro.

"Sorry," she said, "for runnin' off."

She hopped in beside him as the trucks arrived, leaving Mike alone for the meantime as she figured he had his hands full.

[Josh]

"We'll talk about it later," he told Sherry, brushing past Frank. "I'm taking one of the trucks out to pick up Gwen."

Zimmerman stared at him for a moment, confused, until he made the 'Gwen-Trouble' connection.

"Be careful," he admonished.

"Fuck off, Frank," Petro shot back. "Get everyone back inside. I'll be there in a few."

Hopefully.

He spun the truck around on the slick road, heading back toward his old apartment building.

[Caz]

Sherry looked to Zimmerman.

"He fucked her or something," she said with a shrug. "Of course, completely neglecting the fact that he's driving off like a fucking cowboy to rescue an old fuck and therefore neglecting the new fuck back at the mall."


Melanie was busy tending to Ellen, taking care of stitching up her cuts while Dorian checked her for other injures, when the runner arrived.

She then approached Punt.

"Looks like the first are fine," she said. "They'll be back in tonight. We fucking lucked out."

Of course, she hadn't been informed of what had happened to Steve.

[Pcm979]

"Yay." He said. "Someone's gotta have the luck, eh?" A pause. "Reminds me." He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out Jared's Mojo bag. "Kid's." He said, and lay back down, spent.

----------

When the cars arrived at the Mall, Mike hardly noticed the devestation. He had a life to save here.

He and Ace fairly charged into the infirmary, barking orders and getting things into shape.

It was going to be a long, long day.

[Caz]

Melanie took the bag from Punt's hand, then said she'd give it back. As the two doctors arrived she let out a sigh of thanks, letting them know what had happened in their absence, telling them to not mind the kid sitting there glossy-eyed and bored by Silver's bedside, and told them she had more than enough to handle and was putting the infirmary in their quite capable hands and to ask Dorian if they found anything missing or moved.

With a groan, she trudged from the infirmary with her hands on her hips.

Right. Mojo back back to the kid, radio Marey and Gil to see where everyone was at, but...

She approached Zimmerman.

"He still outside unloading?" she asked of Petro.

[Josh]

Zimmerman looked back at her. "He went back for Trouble," he said. "It would seem that Gil, Freddy, and Marley are missing. I'm assuming they're heading the same way."

[Caz]

She nodded.

"Apparently she's with that...man from earlier today. Marley volunteered to head out to look for her, and I sent Freddy and Gil."

[Josh]

"So when we needed Marley to extract the 1st, he was nowhere to be found," he said coldly. "This does not happen again."

[Caz]

"You may be used to this kind of shit," she said, "but I'm not. I did the best I could with what I had. And the idea wouldn't have even occurred to me had he not said he wanted to do it."

She took a deep breath.

"And you're right: it won't happen again. Because I'm not the fucking boss and I don't want to be. I'm assembling my men for a briefing in three hours so they're prepared for what will undoubtedly happen tomorrow and if you need something, come then. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to make sure my husband is okay."

She turned and headed upstairs, not giving him time to reply and not listening if he did.

A few moments later, she was on the bed once again, replacing the bag around the sleeping Jared's neck and murmuring into the radio:

"Baby, why can't you just come home?"

[Josh]

He picked up the radio. "Just got one more thing to pick up on the way home, baby. What's the word on Steve?"

[Caz]

"If you're after that girl, I don't know where she is," she said quietly. "Marley, Freddy, and Gil are out there looking for her right now."

If possible, her voice softened even further:

"I don't know if he'll make it. I heard Ace say something about brain damage. Something about seizures. I'm so sorry..."

[Josh]

"So am I," he said. "I know where I left her, and she wasn't moving much at the time. I'll find her. Are you okay?"

[Caz]

"She's not alone," Melanie warned. "She's with this... zombie. Only he's not. He saved Silver and Carter. But he's not like us; not living."

[Josh]

He stopped the truck, staring at the devastation Silver's diversion had wrought.

"Jesus," he said aloud, but not to the radio. "Like the fucking blitz."

He collected the radio again. "Say again? Sounded like you said something about a zombie saving Silver and Carter."

[Caz]

"That's exactly what I said."

She paused, trying to remember exactly what had happened.

"When they lit the charges, Silver and all nine of his men went down. But then this guy comes outta the smoke like he's Superman or something, carrying 'em over his shoulders. They told him that I'd fix him up if he brought them back, so I splinted his leg and gave him ammo."

[Josh]

He detoured around the wreckage, heading for his old flat. 'That's... not the strangest thing that's happened this month."

[Caz]

"No, but it means you might be chasing nothing. It's cold out there; he might have taken her somewhere safer."

She sighed.

"I just want you here."

[Josh]

"She stood on the watch," he said. "I promised I'd be back for her. Just a little while longer, baby. We got it, by the way. They're going to start dropping us supplies. Guess you already heard about that, though."

He lit a cigarette as he closed in on the flat. "The flippin' fuck?" he muttered, spotting Reaper's meat storage.

[Caz]

"Yeah," she said quietly. "I did. Congrats." She then informed him of Punt and Silver's status, as well as what little she knew of the status of the horde.

"Oh, and today, Zimmerman and I realised something. The snow's hurting them. Well, not hurting, but slowing them down. The fluid in their joints is freezing since they don't generate body heat. And fuck me if he didn't grin like a mad hatter when we were down in the pit."

[Josh]

"Shoulda got a picture," he said. "Listen, I'm going in to find her now. I'll be back as soon as I pick her up. I love you, baby."

He double-checked his pistol as he waited for the reply. Be damned if he was going to trust any zombie.

[Caz]

"I love you..." she whispered, then set the radio down.

"Did you hear that?" she said to Jared, who was still out cold. "Daddy's coming home soon..."

[Josh]

He crept out of the pickup and into the alleyway, pistol and machete at ready. Better to have his shotgun, but it got lost in all the excitement.

He heard a clatter from behind and whirled, leveling his pistol.

Three men, moving quickly.

He craned forward.

Was that?

Yup.

"Marley!" he hissed out. The trio froze.

[Caz]

"What the flyin' fuck you doin' here?" Gil asked, wide-eyed as they caught up with Petro in the flurries.

The three men looked no worse for the wear, if their cheeks and noses weren't a bit puffy and red.

[Josh]

"Same thing you are," Petro said. "Word is you're AWOL, Marley. Gonna have to shoot you. When we get back. C'mon. Girl's gonna need Gil here to look her over. I know he's supposed to be friendly and all, but keep your eyes open. This thing tries anything, we drop him hard and fast."

[Cynical Cat]

Wendigo got up. The noise of the pick up had not gone unnoticed. He went to a nearby window and looked down through his webwork of chains and walkways. Fresh meat out there. Humans. He grabbed a chain and stepped out.