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| Scene Seven: Underground | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Oct 29 2009, 09:29 PM (994 Views) | |
| LadyRahl | Oct 29 2009, 09:29 PM Post #1 |
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Supreme Goddess Of All Things Bright And Shiny
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No one can blame you For walking away Too much rejection (na na) No love injection Life can be easy It's not always swell Don't tell me truth hurts, little girl 'Cause it hurts like hell But down in the underground You'll find someone true Down in the underground A land serene A crystal moon, ah, ah It's only forever Not long at all Lost and lonely That's underground Underground Daddy, daddy, get me out of here Ha ha I'm underground Heard about a place today Nothing ever hurts again Daddy, daddy, get me out of here Ah ha I'm underground Sister sister, please take me down Ah ah I'm underground Daddy, daddy, get me out of here No one can blame you For walking away Too much rejection (na na) No love injection But down in the underground You'll find someone true Down in the underground A land serene A crystal moon, ah, ah It's only It's only forever It's not long at all The lost and the lonely That's underground Underground Daddy, daddy, get me out of here Heard about a place today Nothing ever hurts again Daddy, daddy, get me out of here Ha ha I'm underground Sister, sister, please take me down Ah ha I'm underground Daddy, daddy, get me out Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Daddy, daddy, get me out of here Ah ha I'm underground Sister sister please take me down Ah ha I'm underground Ah ha I'm underground Ah ha I'm underground Daddy Daddy please Daddy Daddy please Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Wanna live underground Sister sister take take me down Sister sister take take me down Lyrics to: Underground Preformed by: David Bowie ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Journal Entry April 24, 2036 ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I can’t help but wonder, did we do the right thing? Was going to war the right answer? It’s not what HE would have wanted, I know that. I know that as certainly as I know my own name. It had all seemed so clear when it started, so clear when he’d died but over the last few weeks, I don’t know. Are we still doing God’s work? Or have we been seduced by the Devil? I know what He would say. Violence is never the answer, that’s what he would say. Sit down with them, listen, understand them and work with them, that’s what he would tell me… but that’s what he was DOING. That is what he was DOING when they KILLED him! I know, I know… I know what he would say but… We’ve let a lot of things pass, more than the average person would. The random attacks, the theft, the killings and the burnings… there is so much that happened that we did nothing about. They came to the door and He opened, no we opened it for them, and held it open wide even when we knew that they meant us harm. And why did we do this? Because HE asked it of us. Perhaps not in so many words, but he did, and as always, we did as he asked. No one could say no to him and looking back, really looking back, I can’t help but wonder if that was the Devil in him? He would always say that there is good and evil in all of us, including himself. No one would believe that though when he was alive, Hell, no one believes it now. As far as everyone is concerned He was a saint, the second coming of Jesus. He wasn’t though, and He would always be the first to say it. “I’m just a man, no more, no less.” And now I can’t help but wonder, are we doing the right thing? Are we doing the wrong thing? Is this something we should have done years ago? Is there something we could have done to prevent this? I know what they say about Him. I know what I say about Him. How could anyone ever speak ill of him? How could anyone hate him? Think badly of him? How could anyone even contemplate for a moment, harming a hair on his head and yet, and yet what happened to him… As much as I loved him, as much as I knew him… with as much of a good person as he was, there was something inside him. Something dark, something that he kept hidden even from himself. And I wonder… who’s path was he really walking? Especially at the end. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Adam/Alex Fort Dodge, IA ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Adam stumbled as something hit the back of his right shoulder. It was a burning, spreading pain but he ignored it, grabbing Alex’s arm and yanking him to the side as an array of bullets slammed into the building where his head had been moments before. “This way,” he said pulling him down an alley. Everything had been going just fine until about twenty minutes ago. Amazing how things can go to shit in a matter of seconds. There’d been a man, his name had been Fork, Knife… Spoon… some kind of utensil. They’d spoken for less than thirty seconds before the attack. He’d said something about his sister, needing to get her help and that was when the front winto of the store that they’d been standing in exploded, bullets flying through the air. The man had ducked to the left, Adam and Alex and jumped behind the counter and fled out the back. They had no idea what had happened to him, but they honestly had more important things on their minds. What few weapons that they’d managed to collect had been in the back of the car that they’d left in front of the store. All they’d done was stopped for food when this had happened and now, once again, they had lost everything. Their vehicles, their weapons, their supplies… and they were running through the streets of the abandoned city while being pursued by a mob of crazies with knives and pitchforks, okay guns and semi-automatic weapons but the principle was the same. “Over here!” Alex hissed, ducking down avoiding another barrage of bullets and disappearing behind a dumpster. “Are you bleeding?” He asked as Adam ducked down beside him. “Later,” Adam replied, his shoulder was really hurting and he grabbed the edge of the dumpster the corner out a few feet from the wall. “Get behind it.” “This isn’t going to work,” Alex replied. “This isn’t hide and go seek, dude.” “I know that,” Adam replied. “But all we need is 30 seconds. They get past us,” he grunted, his breath hard to catch all of a sudden “they get past us and we double back. As long as we’re in front of them we’re all shades of fucked.” He forced his way behind the dumpster, Alex sliding in behind him and the wiggled as far back behind as they could manage. Less than 20 seconds later a mass of a dozen or so well armed men sprinted down the alley n the direction that they’d seen them go. Alex grabbed Adam’s arm, pulling him out silently from behind the dumpster. The noise continued down the alley and they backtracked to the next street, turning left. There was a sign for the military base but they didn’t pay attention heading east instead of west and then taking the second left turning north. “You okay?” Alex asked, looking back at Adam. Adam nodded, holding his right arm to his chest tightly and nodded towards what looked like an abandoned gas station. The windows in the front were boarded up, the pumps removed and after checking both ways across the street they jogged across as quickly as they could. The doorway opened slightly, carried by a gust of wind and they saw a small black furry head peek out with wide green eyes. It disappeared quickly back into the building and Alex pressed his shoulder on the door. It opened easily and the two men ducked inside. “How bad’re you hurt?” Alex asked as he shut the door behind himself, using a brick that was laying on the floor to hold it shut. The black and white cat, which had been very well fed before this, looked at them terrified from the corner, a smaller ginger colored cat watching them as well. “I don’t know,” Adam said pulling off his light jacket. “How’s it look?” “Dude, I’m not a doctor,” Alex replied wincing as he looked at it. It didn’t look that bad, but there was no knowing. He knew enough about bullet wounds to know that it could have bounced off ribs and gone fuck knows where in Adam’s chest, ripping up God only knew what. “Let’s see what we can find.” Adam nodded in agreement and they walked past the two cats, into what would have been the storage room and they froze. Sitting on the ground next to the freezer door was a man, and not just any man. A man in a military uniform. Adam leaned against the wall as Alex leaned over, checking the man’s rank. “He’s a Captain.” He said looking up at Adam. Their eyes moved to the blood streak of a band print around the handle to the door, dragging down to the floor where the dead Captain lay, the back of his head missing. “What do you think happened?” Adam asked flexing the fingers on his right hand against this chest. “What’s that?” Adam asked letting go of his right arm and pointing with his left to what looked like some sort of card under the man’s leg. He moved forward, squatting down and pulling it out. The edge of it was slightly singed, but it looked otherwise intact. “You think he was hiding something?” “Could be,” Alex replied. “My guess would be behind this door.” He laughed suddenly, grabbing the handle. “You ever feel like sometimes this is all out of some B rated movie? I mean a secret… something, in an abandoned gas station freezer?” Adam chuckled, hugging his wounded arm back to his chest. “Let’s just do this,” he said. Alex nodded and pulled the handle. He pulled on the door expecting it to be locked, frozen, unable to open but the handle gave, the door swinging open. Both men expected the scent of rotting food or milk, something that stunk of old freezer that had thawed but left some bacteria behind. There was nothing though. The scent was almost antisceptic. Their eyes met and Adam shrugged, stepping through the doorway just as the front door to the station burst open. “Shit,” Alex hissed, stepping in after Adam just as the two cats from the front ran into the storage room and through the freezer door. The right hand, holding the card, pressed against the wall as he pulled the door shut and there was a heavy sounding cluck. The two men turned to see a dozen or so men, the same ones that had been chasing them, standing on the other side of the glass, looking at them. The men raised their weapons to fire, Adam and Alex just looking at them flatly, completely unarmed with only the freezer glass between them. They jumped as the barrels of the weapons lit up and they could hear solid thumps on the glass as the bullets bounced off. “Good thing I didn’t piss my pants,” Alex said with a laugh. “Um, dude?” Adam said pulling Alex away from the door. “What’s that?” Alex frowned looking at the blinking light above the door, the bullets still hitting the glass ineffectively. “I’m not sure… a count down maybe?” “A countdown to what?” Adam asked. A second later the attackers in the glass disappeared as the freezer dropped out from under them. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Dominica/Misty/Rita Davenport, IA ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “How’s the garden going?” Dominica asked, looking towards Misty as she walked in the room. “Pretty good,” Misty replied setting the bag she was carrying down. “I just talked to Mark about an hour ago in the supply room. He said that the mood in the camp has drastically improved. Though he said that pulling out the guards, and putting them on the edges of the camp would be a good idea.” “I doubt Rita will go for that,” Dominica said and took a bite of the sandwich Edward had made for her. He was sitting quietly on a corner of the sofa, watching them silently. Will was leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest. Thus far he’d made no move, neither of them had, to give them any indication that they couldn’t be trusted but the two women agreed that it was better safe than sorry. “Perhaps,” Edward said “you can propose it as continued stability, make them feel less like captives and more like a community.” Dominica and Misty both looked at him, it had been the first time that he had spoken without being spoken to. “That’s a good idea,” Dominica said. Will snorted from where he stood and she looked at him sternly. “Go out onto the deck,” she said, glowering at him. “Get out of my sight.” He looked at her, contempt in his eyes but ended up shrugging, and walking across the room and out the sliding glass door to the balcony. “God I can’t stand him,” Misty said. “You see the way he looks at us? Like we’re,” “Meat,” Edward replied. “There’s a resistance.” “A resistance?” Dominica asked, frowning. “What do you mean?” Edward looked uncomfortable. “You know about it, right?” He asked looking at Misty. “You’ve felt it, the tenseness.” Misty nodded. “Yeah, I’d noticed.” She said, her eyes looking towards the small camera in the corner and to the flower pot not far from Dominica where they knew there was a small microphone. They had to be very careful. Dominica’s eyes followed hers knowing full well what she was thinking. The three of them jumped as there was a knock on the door. Dominica nodded to Misty and Misty turned, going to the door and opening it. “Rita,” she said seeing the petite blonde standing in the doorway. “I… come on in.” “Thanks,” Rita said breezing past her and coming into Dominica’s office. “Where’s Will?” She asked, sitting down into the chair across from Dominica’s. “On the deck,” Dominica replied. “I got, I got tired of him watching me. Why?” Rita let out a long sigh. “I’ve been hearing rumors. Now, I’m not normally one to listen to rumors but, this one…” She got up and went to the small bar, pouring herself a drink and missing the nervous look that Misty and Dominica shared. Edward shifted uneasily in his seat. “I’ve been hearing that there’s a resistance growing.” She said capping the scotch and taking a sip from her glass. “Have you heard anything?” “Are you getting paranoid now?” Dominica said, her smile frowning as Rita turned around. “Rita, what is it?” “I don’t know who to trust anymore,” Rita said sitting back down and looking at her. “You can trust me,” Dominica said touching her hand. “Trust us. We all want the same thing Rita. We all want to live.” She met Rita’s eyes. “What kind of resistance are we talking about?” “I don’t know,” she replied. “But I can feel it, sense it. It’s like, like a cancer in the city.” “Do you know who’s leading it?” Misty found herself asking, coming towards them and taking a seat at the table with them. As fucked up as Rita’s little community was, as sick as some of the sections were, Rita was also slowly seeing the light. Just yesterday she’d disbanded the recreation camps at Dominica’s suggestion. There would always be prostitution, no matter how perfect the civilization but now it was on a volunteer basis. It seemed like an insane idea, men and women volunteering to be of such ‘service’, but that is what had happened. It had become almost like a job for them, they reported in for 8 hours servicing the soldiers and then left to go and work elsewhere. Rita had really fought against doing this, afraid that if the soldiers lost their ‘payment’ so to speak that they would revolt. Dominica had told her to have faith, which had been the exact thing to say. “Someone named Bathin,” Will said from where he was sitting on the sofa when Rita shook her head. His head was bowed down and he looked at the floor. “Or at least, that’s what he calls himself.” “Bathin?” Misty asked. “I’ve never heard of it. Do you know who it is?” “No,” Edward replied. “We see him in our dreams,” he said “but we never see his face.” “We?” Dominica asked. “The men,” he said shifting uncomfortably. “He speaks to us, in our dreams. Whispers things, things he wants us to do, things that he says we’re meant to do. He says your losing your way.” He said looking at Rita. “Losing my, I’m not losing my way!” Rita snapped at him furiously. “I’m rebuilding us!” Edward shifted back into his seat, cowering down. She looked at Dominica almost panicked. “What do we do? Kill all the men? We need them!” Dominica looked at Misty and then back at Rita, reaching out and touching her hand. “Have faith sister.” She said, her voice gentle. “We’ll just take it one step at a time. Together,” she entwined her fingers around Rita’s and nodding, giving her a gentle smile. “I’ll see what I can find out,” Misty said standing up. “I’ll keep my ears open in the service halls. In the mean time though,” “We need to discuss the breeding camp,” Dominica said. “Misty, why don’t you go and see what you can find out?” She smiled as Rita gave Misty a skeptical look. “I trust her with my life, you can too, and the same with Edward.” She said looking over her shoulder to the quiet man on the sofa, the corner of his mouth turning up, his cheeks flushing at the compliment. “Bring Edward with you, maybe he can glean some information off of some of the other men.” Misty nodded and stood up. “You got it.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Zeke/Sam/Cat/Tom Ankeny, IA ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “So this is it?” Sam asked, his hands on his hips. “The new church? The church of Zeke?” Zeke laughed and dusted off his hands after setting the shovel down. “What brings you here?” He asked with a smile. “The kids wanted to bring some treats,” he said. “You guys have been working hard.” His eyes looked towards the remains of the old church that Zeke, along with a dozen other men and women were working on. It wasn’t huge, it wasn’t fancy… and yet, it seemed, more majestic than anything Sam had ever seen. “That’s awesome,” he said reaching down and taking a half full glass of ice tea that Callie had carried over to him. To say it was half full was generous, she’d spilt more out on the ground than was still in the glass but he took it with a smile and drank. “Thank you angel,” he said rubbing the top of her head. Callie grinned from ear to ear and ran back over to the red McDonald’s dispenser and took another glass that Lex was pouring, and toddling off towards another worker, again spilling it all over her hands and skirt. “I don’t know if I can do this,” Sam said. “Raising kids, and one of them a girl. I didn’t do so hot the first time.” “You did fine,” Zeke said, taking another drink. “Adam’s a good man.” “You don’t know him,” Sam replied. “I know his children,” Zeke said looking at them delivering drinks to all the workers “and that says volumes about him, their mother, and yourself Sam. How’s the plant looking?” “It rough,” Sam replied. “But overall it’s looking good. I’ve never had to run an entire plant, but someone was thoughtful enough to turn on the automated systems and there wasn’t any major damage done from what I can tell. I think we were, well I won’t say lucky.” He cleared his throat and turned as a car door closed, at saw Cat heading across the grass towards them. “Luck would seem to be… well it wouldn’t be even close to the right word. Hey Cat.” “What’s up?” Cat called jogging the last several feet across the grass. “Beautiful day.” His eyes looked up at the pinky blue sky. “You think it’ll ever be blue again? Like it used to?” “I don’t know,” Sam replied. “Honestly… I kind of like it. The sunrise this morning was amazing.” There was silence for a few moments before he spoke. “Do you think they’re okay?” His eyes moved over to Zeke who set down his glass, and picking up his shovel again. “Zeke?” “I don’t know,” Zeke replied. “I can’t see them.” It was like the moment they had left, they’d ceased to exist. They had disappeared off his radar entirely and for the first time, in as long as he could remember, he was afraid. “They’ll be fine,” Sam said, putting his hand on Zeke’s shoulder. “We just have to have faith.” Zeke nodded silently, digging the blade of the shovel into the earth with his foot. “How’s the election coming? Results coming in yet?” Cat smiled and gave a small laugh. “Not yet Sam, the polls haven’t even closed. Eager to see if you won?” Sam laughed and shook his head. “Hell no, Cat. I’m too old for politics. Besides, I didn’t even put my name on the list.” Cat shrugged. “Well there have been a lot of write in’s. Or at least that’s what I was told. Well I know someone who’s bound to be on it,” he said looking at Zeke’s back. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” Zeke said not pausing in his work. “Sometimes God can surprise you.” “And God,” Cat said with an amused smile “isn’t going to put the second coming of his son on the ruling counsel for our new world?” “Oh Jesus, Cat,” Sam said looking at him disapprovingly. “Okay, okay!” Cat said holding up his hands is submission. “I’m sorry, but come on, you’ve got to admit that there’s some fucked up shit going on. I mean Zeke, dude,” Zeke laughed and set down the shovel as Callie came running back over with two drinks this time, one in each hand. Iced tea slopped madly over the edges as she ran and she offered one to Sam, the other to Cat. Noticing Zeke’s glass was empty she grabbed it and headed back to her brother again. “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he replied as Sam drank down the whole one swallow of tea that was left in his glass. “But I’m not the second coming of Jesus.” He shook his head, amused, greatly so. “Nah, you’re Mother Abigail,” Sam replied. “Or at least that’s what Alex would say. I can’t wait to see his face when he meets you. He’s going to be disappointed that you’re not 106 years old and you don’t bake your own bread.” “Actually I do bake my own bread,” Zeke said with a chuckle and the three of them burst into laughter. She’d been doing so good until that point. Callie’s little unsteady feet tripped up and she went sprawling into the grass, the plastic cup she’d been carrying falling out of her grip. “Callie!” Lex cried, running across the grass to his sister as she sat up, her chubby little face screwing up as she prepared to cry. “Awe crap,” Sam said leaving Zeke and Cat, walking quickly over to Callie and picking her up. She wasn’t hurt, just embarrassed by the ungraceful spill that she’d just taken. Her little arms wrapped around his neck and she pressed her face into his shoulder, sniffling. “It’s okay sweetie, it’s okay.” He said bouncing her in his arms gently. “She’s fine,” he said to Lex, holding out his band to the boy who took it, following him back to where Zeke and Cat were standing. “She’s fine,” he said turning Callie around in her arms. She held out her chubby little arms to Zeke who once against set down the shovel, this time to take her from her grandfather’s arms. “So what’s our next move? I mean, when they get back? What do we do in the mean time?” “Rebuild,” Zeke replied. “It’s all we can do.” “But the women,” Sam said. “We need to do something to help them. I know that you say that what they’re getting in Fort Dodge is supposed to help us, but we still, we need to do something in the mean time. We can’t just sit here and do nothing while Domin,” he broke off remembering suddenly that the next woman he was about to mention was the mother of his grandchildren, “the women and God only knows how many others are subjected to… well you know what I’m getting at.” “Can we play secret agent?” Lex asked, looking up at his grandfather with big blue eyes. “Yeah sure,” Sam replied only half listening, his mind still thinking about Dominica and Willow. Lex rolled his eyes and sat down in the grass as though he was frustrated with Sam’s reply. “Kid’s got an idea,” Cat replied and Lex looked up at him. “Secet Asian Man,” Lex sang. “Dere’s a man who wives a wife of danger…” he started to sing softly to himself as though pleased with himself, his little feet tapping out the beat as accurately as his father would have. Callie started to clap her hands together in time and wiggled to be let down so that she could dance. “What do you mean?” Sam asked. “What are you talking about? Sending in spies?” “Why the hell not?” Cat asked. “I mean we can’t exactly go in guns blazing knowing fuck all about the place. At least if we know where they’re being held, we’ll know how to get to them and we won’t just be walking around holding our dicks in our,” “Little ears,” Sam hissed at him sternly, though the children seemed oblivious to it. “It’s something for the Council to consider, after the election is over.” Zeke said, in a tone that clearly said that he didn’t approve. “Besides,” Sam said. “We don’t even know where they are… or do we?” He asked, looking carefully at Zeke. Zeke let out a long sigh and looked east. “Davenport,” he said softly. “They’re in Davenport.” The three men turned as a woman came running across the grass towards them up from where the medical encampment was. “Zeke! Come quick! It’s Tom… he’s awake!” “What the,” Sam said. “He saying anything?” “Something about Bathin,” the woman said out of breath. “He just keeps going on and on about this Bathin.” |
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| LadyRahl | Oct 29 2009, 09:29 PM Post #2 |
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Supreme Goddess Of All Things Bright And Shiny
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~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Mark/Willow/Bridgette Davenport, IA ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “I’m really glad that they’re letting us do this,” Bridgette said brushing the dirt on her hands off onto the white folds of her skirt. “It was a good idea. It’s nice to get out into the sunshine. Be constructive again.” She looked over to the edge of the square where Mark was sitting atop several bags of fertilizer, strumming his guitar and singing Quit Cryin’ Your Eyes Out to an assortment of young women sitting around his feet. They came and went, sometimes helping Willow and Bridgette with the garden that they were slowly building and sometimes stopping to listen. Bridgette sometimes joined them finding it peaceful but Willow kept working non-stop, probably because she was married to a musician and she was used to it, or at least that’s what Bridgette thought. “I am too,” Willow replied standing up and taking several steps back, making her way around a young woman, maybe 15 years old. To see her here, it was hard. The girl was still a child and she was expected to bare children and be a baby machine. They all were, but it was harder to see the teens. The ones who should be having a normal life going to the mall and hanging with friends. She smiled down at the girl, meeting her eyes for a moment before looking back at what she had been working on. She’d spent most of the morning working on a mosaic in the garden, carefully setting colored stone in the center to portray four characters. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Faith It was a simple word, and a word that they’d all agreed that Rita wouldn’t have a problem with. A word that would mean one thing to her, faith that they were following the right path, and another thing to them, faith that they would find a way out of this. On either side she’d done a simple arrangement for the sun and moon, both solid flat stones. Unlike the rest of the mosaic however, these two stones weren’t cemented in. No one would ever know walking on them, and Bridgette did just that coming over to her, making sure to give a little extra bounce on those two stones as she did. “How’s it look?” She asked coming over, taking the hand of the 15 year old as she started to stand and helping her up. “Oh my God Willow, it looks fantastic.” “It looks great,” the girl said smiling. “Thank you Alex,” Willow said and looked over at Mark who just hit the last chord of the song. There was a groan as he leaned over and put the guitar back into the case. “Later ladies,” he said with a smile, stretching his back as he used his foot to close the lid. “Looking good.” “I thought Willow said you were into gardening,” Bridgette said looking at him. “So far all you’ve done is sit your ass on the fertilizer and sing.” “I don’t mind it,” Willow said, her hand resting on the small of Mark’s back, rubbing it gently. “He writes some fantastic stuff. You should hear the rejects,” “They were rejects for a reason,” Mark replied. “We can put some gladiolas over there, along that side of the path. They’re thick brushed, and they’d thrive in the light. They’re an early bloomer too, and hearty.” Bridgette and Willow both nodded both noting that if they planted them there, it would help to shield the mosaic from the camera in the corner of the garden. The sun and moon had been left uncemented for the sole purpose of passing communication between themselves, and others in the compound as they planned their little rebellion. There was just enough space to pray up the edge and slip a small note under it, and Willow was going to install a small fountain right above the mosaic, some sort of water feature where they could either move a rock, or leave some sort of indication that there was a message under the stone. They were still working out the details. Communication between everyone in the camp was slow going for several reasons. One, they weren’t entirely sure who to trust. It was very possible that Rita might have spies planted, Mark and pointed that out and so they didn’t want everyone to know what they were really doing here. The other was that it was hard getting the message around without being found out. They’d agreed that the best way was to work on the garden every day, always having one of them there working. People were always coming and going, helping and then leaving… it was a nice feeling of community and it also let them put out feelers, set seeds in people’s minds without being obvious and without being predictable. “I was thinking,” Mark said “that maybe some bird feeders would be nice. A couple of hand carved bird houses? It could help, brighten things up… something that everyone could see from a distance.” “Sure, if they give us shit to carve with.” Bridgette said. “I’ll ask Misty about it. We could put symbols in it and stuff. You know for… stuff.” Willow laughed and nodded. “It’s a good idea. I love the sound of birds in the morning. Maybe we can scatter them around the compound too, so people don’t have to go so far to see life, and hope.” “Pretty much what I was thinking.” He replied, knowing that they were on the same wavelength. If they could extend their plan further into the compound, it would be less likely that the garden would be discovered. Notes could also be passed from the bird houses when people went to fill them easily avoiding detection. “Can I help?” Danny said, coming over, tucking in his shirt, his duties done for the moment at the house. “I like birds. I used to be a carpenter. I can build the houses, make them pretty. I want to help. I know I’m not good at this planning stuff,” he said and Bridgette grabbed his hand, suddenly worried that he would blow everything “but I’m good with my hands.” Willow looked at Bridgette and then Mark, and the three of them seemed to realize that out of everyone in the compound, Danny was probably the most likely to be allowed to have tools and carving items. He was a follower, a sheep who was content to do what he was told. He posed absolutely no risk to Rita’s reign and everyone knew it. Some people looked at him with suspicion, but they knew that he could be trusted. Bridgette knew it and she’d told them, and they had taken her word for it. “I’ll talk to Misty when she comes back with the seeds,” Bridgette said giving Danny’s cheek a kiss. “That’s a really nice idea. Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” Danny said letting go of her hand and he picked up one of the bags of fertilizer. “Can I dig for a while? I want to help.” “Sure,” Bridgette said noting the time. “You two should get going, we’ll get the soil turned.” “Get going?” Willow asked and sighed as she realized what time it was. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot.” “It could be worse,” Mark said. “You could be stuck with Keith Richards.” “Oh Jesus,” Willow said bursting out laughing. “Come on stud,” she said giving his ass a friendly smack. “We’ll be back in five minutes,” she said to Bridgette. “Five,” “Sex is a race to orgasm,” Mark said “and I have yet to loose,” he said with a friendly wink and he picked up his guitar case, the two of them heading back towards their small house for their daily duty. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Ruben/Johnson/Phil “Spoon” Witherspoon ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Don’t shoot! Don’t shoot!” Spoon yelled at the top of his lungs from where he was laying flat on the ground behind a burned out VW Beetle. “I’m not armed!” “Johnson, take the north flank!” John called over the sound of gunfire. “Cut the fucker’s off from their retreat!” “Roger that!” Johnson called back. “Winters, Davis, you’re with me!” He sprinted out from behind the bus where they’d taken up cover and ran around the pile of junk to their west, it would be the easiest way to get to the cars that were idling. They’d arrived to Fort Dodge to hear a whole lot of gunfire going on and found a dozen men cursing and trying to break some glass in an abandoned gas station freezer. They’d gone in peacefully enough, not wanting conflict but there’d been no way around it. As soon as the men had seen the small party that had come north from Ankeny, all Hell had broken loose. John had just enough time to throw Ruben into the back of the Humvee before they’d opened fire on them. After that they’d been pressed backwards, further and further south until here they were, in the junkyard, bullets flying in every direction, their vehicles blown to hell. “Awe fuck,” Johnson said as he saw a woman pop up from behind a pile of rubble, an RPG in her hands aimed directly at the Humvee that they were now behind. The Humvee Ruben was in. “MOVE!” Johnson yelled and ripped the door open, grabbing Ruben’s arm and hauling him violently out of the vehicle and throwing him ahead of him. They two men leapt behind a large pile of heavy junk as they heard a thump and hiss, of the RPG flying through the air and a bone rattling boom as it hit the Humvee blowing it to hell. “Davis! Take her out!” “Roger!” Davis called. “Stay here!” Johnson said to Ruben, shoving a 9 mm into his hands. “Keep your back against the metal.” Ruben nodded as Johnson headed off with his two soldiers. Maybe he should have stayed in Ankeny like Zeke had wanted him to. It hadn’t felt like the right thing to do though. He’d woken up yesterday knowing that he had to go with the party up to Fort Dodge. He didn’t know why that was, but he did. Zeke hadn’t really argued with him about it, just expressed his opinion with a sad look in his eyes, a worried look. Now Ruben knew why. His head turned as he heard someone yelling, and he saw a man, pressed to the ground behind a burned out car. He could see one of the attackers making their way around the corner, weapon raised to take the unarmed man out and Ruben acted without thought to his own safety, pushing himself up and running in that direction. “NO!” He called, raising the gun Johnson had given him and squeezing the trigger. The first few shots missed entirely and the attacker jumped back, startled, the gun going off, the bullet missing Ruben’s neck by inches. The next three hit the attacker in the chest, sending him to the ground and Ruben fell behind the Beetle with the unarmed man. “You okay?” Ruben asked. “Yeah, thanks.” Spoon said, his heart pounding. “I have to get to my sister. They took her, she’s hurt bad.” Ruben nodded. “Show me,” he said not having any idea how many bullets he had left but knowing that this was something they had to do. The man nodded, his name unknown since they hadn’t shared names yet, and pointed in the direction they needed to go. “On three,” he said. “One, two…” Twenty minutes later it was over. “Get over there,” Johnson said shoving the long captive ahead of him towards where Ruben had gone. The battle had been hard, they’d lost several good people during the skirmish thanks to the attackers being grossly better armed than they had been. They’d made do however. It wasn’t always about the gun that you held, but the training behind it. “Fuck you,” the woman said angrily at him but she did as she was told. She walked knowing where they were going already, around the junkyard towards the center where they found John and Ruben, along with what remained of their small force, a man that they didn’t know, and something cooking over a fire. His stomach turned over smelling grilled meat. “She’s the only one left,” Johnson said, Davis limping behind him. “Put her in the jeep,” John said. “Tie her up and strap her in. I don’t want her going anywhere in case they have any more friends. We need to set up radio contact with Ankeny.” “Yes sir,” Johnson said, grabbing the woman’s arm roughly. “Spoon,” Ruben said squatting down next to the man that he’d just met twenty minutes before. “Are you,” his eyes looked down to the bloody watch that Spoon was holding in his hands. “I’m so sorry.” “She deserved better than this,” Spoon said standing up shaking his head. “Then to be some sick fuckers bar-b-que dinner.” His eyes burned with tears. He’d left her that morning to get medical supplies to try to stop her bleeding. While he’d been gone however, they’d found their little hiding place and taken her. He knew that she was dead even before they’d taken her out of the building, that was clear from the amount of blood. “We’ll take her back with us,” Ruben said grabbing a bucket and filling it with earth, throwing it over the fire to put it out. The attackers had gutted her like an animal, splitting her and putting her over the fire to cook. All those canned goods in the city, all the food that was still good… the city had power, so the meat wouldn’t have gone bad but these people… the delicious scent of cooked meat filled his nostrils and Ruben put his hand over his mouth, fighting down the urge to vomit. After this, the idea of going vegan really didn’t seem like a bad idea any more. “What’s in there?” Ruben asked, looking towards a silver building. It was dirty, rusted and in disrepair and yet somehow still magically standing. “Lieutenant?” He called looking over towards Johnson and nodded in the direction of the building. Johnson nodded and grabbed his rifle. “I’m going with you,” Spoon said. “I can’t, I can’t, be here.” He said looking at the cooling remains of his sister. They’d have to wait for her body to cool down before taking the spit off the fire and putting her in a body bag and that, that he just could not watch. Ruben and Spoon took up position behind Johnson as he headed towards the building, his weapon raised, his eyes bright and alert. As Johnson’s hand reached out towards the door slowly, it burst open and Alex seemed to appear out of nowhere. Behind him they could see rows and rows of weapons and what looked like a heavy door that had been propped open leading down a long brightly lit corridor. “Johnson,” Alex said gasping for air. “Thank God, come on.” He grabbed the man’s arm not bothering to acknowledge either Ruben or Spoon and he pulled him after him through the building, the other two following and through the doorway into the underground corridor. “He’s hurt bad,” he said moving as fast as he could. “He started coughing up blood up and collapsed about ten minutes ago. I’ve been looking for a way out, and found this. Come on, this way.” The four men ran down the hallway, past shut doors towards one that was open and they burst through. Adam was sitting in a chair, leaning forward, his arms on his knees, blood dripping from his lips as he coughed again. He looked up at them, his skin frighteningly pale as he labored for breath. “Hey,” he said softly and coughed again. “The code,” he said as Johnson grabbed him, his fingers checking out the bullet wound on his back. “I think it got a lung,” Johnson said. “He’s drowning in his own blood, shit this isn’t good. I need to relieve the pressure.” He turned, grabbing a pen off the desk behind him and ripping it open/ “Alex,” Adam said licking his lips. “The solution… to unlock… the keys… should be… 74..54…291.” “It’s going to be okay Adam,” Alex said taking his hand. “Johnson’ll get you fixed up good and proper. You’re going to be fine buddy.” Adam let out a bubbling laugh and winced as Johnson pulled out his knife, digging it into his side sharply. “I don’t… think so,” he said gasping for air. “Tell my wife, my kids… tell them,” “You’ll tell them yourself buddy,” Alex said as Adam’s eyes fluttered shut. “Adam? Is he?” “There we go,” Johnson said shoving the body of the pen into Adam’s chest. From it came a hard squirt of blood that shot across the floor and Adam took a sudden deep gasp of air. “He’s just unconscious,” Johnson said. “But he needs medical attention, and he needs it now.” “We need a stretcher,” Ruben said standing up. “Where are we?” “An underground base of some kind,” Alex replied. “There’s a whole lot of shit behind some really big ass door, that’s what Alex was talking about. We need a code to get into the vault where the keys are. There was a note, Adam must have figured out what it meant.” “What do you mean, a whole lot of shit?” Ruben asked. “Tanks and shit,” Alex said. “Must be like experimental war crap or something. This place was locked down tight before we got here. Some secret entrance in a gas station.” He wiped his bloody hand on his pants. “Who the hell are you anyway?” “Ruben,” he said shaking his hand. “This is Spoon. We’re from Ankeny.” |
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| LadyRahl | Oct 29 2009, 09:29 PM Post #3 |
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Supreme Goddess Of All Things Bright And Shiny
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Mod Note: After some deliberation, I’m going to leave Adam’s fate in the hands of his player. You can include him in your posts are far as trying to help him, but it will be her call and her call alone if he lives or dies. The results of the election I’m still sorting through in my head, I’ll put them in a post when I finally decide. I just have some final details to work out. As for what’s in the underground bunker… this is now in the hands of the goodies. Feel free to explore it if you want, otherwise, feel free to head back down to Ankeny. I really don’t want you there for a huge amount of time though. What’s in there is going to be important for the final battle to come, but right now, it doesn’t really matter much. I’d really rather not have you go into big long lists of stuff that you find if you don’t mind. Welcome to Misbehaver a.k.a. Spoon. New characters are always fun. I’m looking to wrap this game up by scene 10. So we’ve got 3 more weeks. Start thinking about what you want to do next. There’s no hurry at this point, but feel free to PM me with ideas or proposals if you think you might want to do something. Just make sure, if you volunteer an idea to mod a game, make sure that you have the time to devote to it, or find a co mod to help you with it. As always, any questions… see me. Make sure you get EVERYTHING done in the next week that you want to get done. I'm not saying anything else... but make sure you do it. The next three scenes the game will be starting to wrap so things will get moving. Don't plan on writing it later, write it NOW! Edited by LadyRahl, Oct 29 2009, 10:24 PM.
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| bebeluv1 | Oct 30 2009, 01:29 PM Post #4 |
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Nemesis
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Adam, Alex, Ruben, Johnson--Expiration So it was true. When you are dying, your life really does flash before your eyes. Adam’s struggle to breathe was eased by Johnson’s crude surgery, but it was probably too late. The amount of blood that he had lost was ridiculous, and frightening. Still, he felt oddly calm now, lying against Alex’s chest as he held Adam down for the makeshift surgical procedure. He saw his children, and he saw his wife, standing in the sun under a large maple tree. The summer sun beamed down upon them like blessings from God’s own hand. Adam had hung a swing for Lex, working with Willow’s dad to get the knots nice and tight on the thick, straight branch. Lex had soared on the swing, like a human bird, his shadow waxing and waning with the changing position of his body. Callie was just a newborn back then, and was behind with Grandma, being cuddled and read to. Adam’s breath was so shallow now, and he was paler than ever. Shaking, he raised his hand and clumsily removed his wedding band. He held it up for Alex. “Give this to Willow when you see her,” he rasped, his voice thick with blood. “No, man, you’re gonna give that to her yourself!” Alex exclaimed, refusing to take the ring from Adam. Adam’s eyes closed, he was so weary. So damn TIRED. He licked his lips, smearing blood over them as he did so. “I can’t argue; I don’t have the energy, Alex.” He held the ring out again. “Please.” Alex took Adam’s crimson-stained platinum band, and was alarmed by the tears springing from his eyes. So he didn’t believe Adam was going to be ok after all. “All right,” he said, his voice husky, “but I’m just holding it for you until you get better.” Adam smiled at that, knowing that Alex knew the real score. “Thanks, man” he wheezed. He started coughing then, and ropy clots of blood shot out from his mouth. Alex wondered if they were pieces of his lungs. Christ. “Tell my wife…..tell my kids….and my dad….that I love them, ok?” “Ok, man. I promise.” Alex looked up helplessly at Ruben and Johnson. They looked back at him. There was nothing any of them could do. What could be done, had been done. Adam grabbed Alex’s wrist with more strength than Alex thought possible. “Tell Willow I tried,” he pleaded. “Tell her….I’m sorry.” “You’ve got nothing to be sorry about, man.” Alex said. Adam released his grip and then dropped his hand limply to his lap. “Just tell her….I tried.” “Let’s make him as comfortable as possible,” Ruben said softly, moving some blankets from their shelves to the floor for Adam to lay on. “I’ll hold him, it’s all right,” Alex said, stroking Adam’s hair. “We, uh, we’re kind of brothers now.” “Don’t let the rats eat me, man,” Adam whispered. “He’s delusional,” Johnson commented. “No, no he’s not,” Alex said, knowing exactly what Adam was referring to. He wiped the sweat from Adam’s face. “That’s not gonna happen, buddy, I’ll make sure of that.” He said emphatically. This seemed to satisfy Adam, and he closed his eyes. After a moment, his breathing shallowed, and then his chest failed to rise. All members of Area 5 had now left the building, and there would be no encore. |
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| njsmostwanted651 | Oct 30 2009, 03:42 PM Post #5 |
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You can be the sinner and I'll be the sin
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Johnson looked down at his once clean ACU's, which were now once again covered in dirt and speckles of blood from battle. His hand had a descent size gash on it from a lose shard of metal on a wrecked car while running past it. There was a white bandage now covering his hand, and some blood had managed to seep through the material. He would probably have to get a stitch or two on it, but it sure as hell beat getting shot. He looked over and spotted Spoon who sitting on the ground clutching the bloody watch in his hands. He looked down at it blankly, lost in thought. "I'm really sorry about you're sister." Johnson said approaching him. Spoon looked up at him. "Thanks Lieutenant." "You can call me Darren." He nodded and looked to the ground. Johnson knew they were in the process of removing his sister's body, but decided it would be best to keep that knowledge to himself. "What was her name?" Johnson asked. "Marie." Spoon answered. Johnson nodded, and decided to change the topic after he saw Spoon start to become more upset. "Alright Spoon, weir taking off in ten minutes, so you can pick any of the trucks you feel like taking and we'll take you back to Ankeny." "Ok. Thanks Darren." He said. Johnson nodded and turned on his heel to check on the situation up front. He started to think about his fiance, Christine, and if she had made it. He told her that if anything at all were to go wrong while he was away to head to Fort Story, which was the closest Army base to their Virginia Beach bungalow. Even if she did make it, he still worried about what things were like on the East Coast. While the radios were working, he tried several times to reach Fort Story, but was unsucessful. He couldn't tell if the connection was bad, or if no one was answering. What scared him the most was not knowing. He assumed that if there were groups of people as fucked up as this, there would be more. "How's your hand Darren?" Ruben asked. His collared shirt was dirt stained from laying on the ground dodging bullets, and he had dark circles under his eyes from the stress that came with it. "It's fine." He said looking at the bloodied bandage. "Needs a few stitches is all." "Is Spoon ok?" Ruben asked. "He's bouncing back better than I probably could, but he's still sore. He'll need time before he's alright." Johnson said. Ruben nodded. Johnson noticed that his .45 was tucked barrel first in Ruben's belt. He couldn't blame him for keeping it, whether it was intentional or not. He would let him keep it without protest. |
| "Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15 | |
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| bebeluv1 | Oct 30 2009, 04:01 PM Post #6 |
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Nemesis
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mark and willow--boom chicka wow wow “You know, I could go slower,” Mark began, thinking about Willow’s ‘five minutes’ comment. “Just figured that we’re both married and would want to get it over with as quick as possible…” Mark laughed self-conciously. His male pride was kinda on the line. He lay next to Willow in the rumpled bed, amongst the crinkled white sheets. So far neither one of them had made any attempt to get out of bed. They were growing comfortable with each other—intimately. Mark wasn’t sure if that was good or bad. Willow smirked. Typical male. “It’s fine, Mark, really. You’re right, we’re not lovers; we’re breeders, so why prolong the necessary results?” Mark shrugged. “If you want me to be more attentive, or ….whatever, I would….” Mark was cute, and Willow turned over to her side to look at him. “The fact that you’re thinking about how to make this better for me is enough, Mark. But really, I don’t want to feel like we’re making love. You know?” “Yeah,” Mark nodded. “Exactly. It’s one thing to be forced to mate and quite another to start enjoying it and turn it into love-making.” Mark muttered something and sat up, swinging his legs over the edge as he did so. “What was that?” Willow asked, sitting up now herself. Mark sighed, then turned his head toward Willow. “I said, maybe I like it too much with you already.” He turned around again, and Willow saw his shoulders drop. “I’m sorry. You must think I’m a real pig.” “No, honey, I don’t,” Willow whispered, and kissed the back of Mark’s shoulder. “I think you’re a kind man and I adore you. You take good care of us here.” “Thanks, Willow,” Mark said appreciatively as he stood up to start getting dressed. He glanced at her curiously. “You had your pregnancy test this morning, right?” Willow nodded, hoping that Mark had forgotten. The news she got at the pregnancy testing center was going to complicate things, and it was hard enough not growing fonder of this strong, kind, warm and funny man that she was living with. “So?...” “Have Peg and Mary heard anything about their tests?” Willow inquired, trying to deflect the topic another way. “Mary is positive. Peg…..I don’t know yet,” Mark said, somewhat downtrodden. “Oh, Mark,” Willow said, seeing the sadness in his eyes. “It’s gonna be ok….I promise, ok?” she said, stroking his face, still naked. Mark got lost in Willow’s eyes as she stared at him, and suddenly kissed her, hard. Without thinking about what he was doing, he lowered Willow back down onto the bed, already growing hard in his shorts. He kissed her hungrily, his hands exploring her body, and then after a few moments seemed to come to his senses and he abruptly broke away. “Willow, I……whoops,” he said sheepishly, again doing the ol’ beard-sweep with this hand. He grinned at her like a little boy caught doing something naughty. Would she punish him? |
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| mdnjr70 | Oct 30 2009, 04:51 PM Post #7 |
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Shrimp Po'Boy
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Rubén/Darren/Alex/Spoon – The Door Rubén rested his hand on Alex’s shoulder giving him a gentle squeeze, “He’s gone. I’m sorry.” Alex looked at his dead friend laying there, they had given him several minutes already, but Adam’s chest didn’t rise again and his skin started to turn even more pale, it was clear the man was dead and not coming back no how long they stood there and looked at him. “We can take him with Maria and the others, take him Ankeny and burry him, properly.” Darren said, this was his mission and so many good people had died, but it wasn’t his fault, he knew that, but getting them all back for a proper burial, it could something the new council could attend, a dark time, but it would show respect and a communal sense of loss and grief. He knew the list Zeke had given him both Adam and Alex were on the list and now they would only be returning with Alex, well they would have Adam, but he was now dead, it was pretty messed up. Rubén turned to Darren he was getting too comfortable with the idea of death and it was something he didn’t like, there was so much around them that you couldn’t help but grow a thick skin when it came to death, especially about people you didn’t know nor care about. His dusty high collard shirt and dark circles were not normal for Rubén and Darren knew the man had never been in anything like this before but he was holding up pretty good all things considered. Rubén took the weapon out of his belt and handed it back to Darren, he had used it but he didn’t want to keep it, he knew that it wouldn’t be needed any longer and if he did need another weapon he was pretty sure he wouldn’t have any trouble getting one. Darren took the gun and simply nodded, “We need to see what we can get from this place people died for this so I hope to God it’s going to be worth it. And once we find out, we will need to see about securing it and get back to Ankeny we don’t want Rita or anyone else finding this place.” Rubén said, there was a reason they were here and they needed to make sure that they fulfilled their purpose. Alex reached down and closed Adam’s eyes gently with his hands he knew Willow would grieve as they all would, but now was not the time. “We can put the bodies in the back.” Rubén said looking at the dead man. Alex looked at him and his barrows furrowed, “His name is Adam Barkley he’s not some nameless body he has a wife, two kids and a father not to mention friends. Darren you knew him as well…he deserves to be remembered.” Darren nodded, “I did. He was a good man.” Rubén sighed looking at Alex his expression softened greatly, “Alright, we can put Adam in back of one of the trucks with the others.” Alex stood up looking at the men, he only knew Darren and he was still a little shell shocked, “I’m sorry it’s been a hell of a day.” Rubén nodded he completely understood almost being shot can do that, he still felt the breeze of the bullet by his neck, it was something he hopped to never experience again…ever, “I understand and I’m sorry for you loss. I wasn’t trying to be insensitive, that is the farthest thing from my mind.” Alex nodded, pocketing the ring for later when they found Willow. “You mentioned a code?” Rubén continued looking at Alex refusing to look at the dead body laying there on the ground, “74, 54, 291.” Alex recited and looked again at Adam with a soft frown. “Then that is where we should start.” Darren said, picking up the walkie and calling his men, informing them of the situation and arranging someone to come and get Adam. “Alex, are you going to be ok?” Rubén said looking at him a little worried. “This is some fucked up shit man.” Spoon looked at him, “Ya think.” Alex eyed him then looked back at Rubén there was no denying Rubén was a handsome man and there was something oddly familiar about him. “I suggest we go and look for this door.” Rubén said, “I’m not leaving him.” Alex said pointing to Adam, “My men will take care of him Alex, we really do need to move.” Darren said looking at him, “But the rats.” Adam said remembering what happened to Burt Reynolds that was something you didn’t forget easily. Rubén and Darren looked at each other not fully understanding what was the issue, Adam was dead, was it sad, of course, but it wasn’t like he was going to get up and walk away, this wasn’t some kind of Zombie horror movie. “We can wait for them to get here.” Darren said offering a nod of reassurance to Alex if it was important to him to wait and it would offer him comfort then they would wait. The four men waited for several minutes for Darren’s men to show up and collect Adam’s body and they moved out Alex in the lead. There seemed to almost be a frantic pass about what they were doing they walked down the corridor it was actually well lit and somewhat clean, if it wasn’t for the creepy feeling hanging in the air you would think it was just another hallway in an office building somewhere. As they moved the hallway opened up to a very large corridor, it was massive and went off in both directions, they turned to the left. “So you’re from Ankeny?” Alex said looking back at Rubén, “We are, sorry we didn’t get here sooner.” Darren said. “Well you did what you could.” Spoon said looking around, he knew his sister was going to die, but to end up like that she shook the thought from his mind. “I thought he would have come.” Alex said still looking at Rubén something so familiar about him he couldn’t shake the feeling, “Zeke, no…this isn’t his thing, there is work to do in Ankeny and he needed to stay there.” Alex sighed touching his scar on his face, “Rubén I don’t know you, you’re not familiar to me, but yet you are.” Rubén chuckled seeing the scar and smiling as they walked, he had to admit he looked good with a scar, it added a little something to his look, not that he would say anything and this was so not the time or place, but a handsome face was still a handsome face, “well I guess that is a good thing, I’m not one for the spot light but these days it doesn’t hurt.” Alex shook his head, “No, I mean Domenica never talked about you, just Zeke.” Rubén laughed this time, “Don’t worry you won’t be alone and he’s used to it. I just help Zeke as best I can, do what I can to be support to him, help him and to just be there.” Alex thought a moment seeing Rubén eye his face his eyes moving over to his scar, did it show that bad or was it just quick fascination, “got it.” They continued walking until they reached a large door, ‘door’ wasn’t the right word for it, it was maybe 35 feet across and 50 feet high it was big enough to drive very large vehicles through, which considering the size of the corridor really wasn’t a surprise. “Wow!” Rubén said then looked at Darren, “Lieutenant do you know this place?” Darren shook his head, “No I’ve never heard of it.” “Well whatever is there we need to get it.” Spoon said and they all agreed. Alex walked up to the control pad and punched in the code that Adam told him. There were several loud bangs and a pleasant female voice spoke, “Door activation acceptable.” There were several more loud bangs and what sounded like a locking devise opening up, “Stand by.” The female voice said. Then the doors slowly started to open, the four men stood one next to the other in a perfect line as it slowly moved filling the large corridor they were in with even more light. As they watched it open the light was too much for them to see the contents at first. Rubén turned his head from the light as the door moved higher, finally he heard a latching sound and turned back to look into the room, as his eyes adjusted he didn’t know what to say, “Fuck me.” Was all he heard and he looked at Alex who was just as shocked as the rest of them but had managed to say what they were all thinking. |
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May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference. | |
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| LadyRahl | Oct 30 2009, 09:53 PM Post #8 |
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Supreme Goddess Of All Things Bright And Shiny
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Willow/Mark - Race for the Win Willow smiled and reached out, touching his cheek gently. “It’s okay,” she replied and she let out a long sigh. “Come here.” She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to her and pushing her lips against his. “I don’t,” “It’s okay,” she whispered, running a hand through his hair. “Adam,” Willow laid her head back on the pillow, looking at him and meeting his eyes. “Mark,” she whispered softly, “just, come here.” She pulled him back to her, her kiss tender, gentle, affectionate. She needed this, she needed some tenderness, some love in her life, she needed to feel beautiful and desired. It was a horrible feeling, one that burned in the pit of her stomach and she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She just needed something… beautiful. Something more than kneeling in the dirt, her hands burred in dark earth. Something more than watching her crimson blood seep from small cuts on her hands as she worked down into the soil. She needed to feel… this. She needed the physical contact and if it couldn’t be from Adam, she was glad that it could be Mark. They were friends, perhaps not the best of friends in the past, but friends none the less. They cared for each other, respected each other. They knew each other was hurting, knew that they felt alone and knew that without a doubt they could lean on each other and they’d grown closer since bumping into each other. She didn’t want to think how close, because she still loved her husband. She still needed him. Still wanted him… but she needed this. Of all the people that she could have been partnered with, it had been Mark. The least she could do was show him how much this meant to her. Willow didn’t think about her feelings, didn’t think about the way that her skin tingled when he touched her, she just poured herself into him without thought, without hesitation. Adam would understand. These were extenuating circumstances and in the end, he’d wrap his arms around her, kiss her and tell her that it was okay. That no matter what happened he still loved her, that she didn’t have to tell him anything, that he still wanted her and that they were still a family. She felt a hitch in her throat and she pressed her face into Mark’s neck, breathing in his scent. She lost herself in him, her body wrapping around his. She could feel Mark’s face, pressing into her own neck and she wondered what he was thinking. Was he thinking about Skye? Trying to lose himself in her to remember the feeling on his wife? Was she losing herself in him for the same thing? Were they having an affair? Or was these extenuating circumstances? What was happening, she didn’t think about. She just wanted the moment to be pure, to be beautiful and lovely, as lovely as it could be. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Are you okay?” Mark asked, rolling over and looking at her. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, the sheet wrapped around her chest and her eyes looking out the window. “Willow?” “I’m fine,” she replied, turning her head and looking at him, the corner of her mouth curling up slightly, though with a hint of sadness. “I just, I don’t know.” She scooted back on the bed and leaned back against his chest. “So Mary,” “Yeah,” Mark replied, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. He leaned down, kissing the side of her neck gently. “Are you sure it’s,” “No,” he said with a snort. “I mean it’s possible but… oh Hell Willow, I don’t know. It’s possible. Probably. God this is so fucked up.” “I know,” she replied. “Mark? What are we going to do when we get out of here?” “Start over?” Mark asked with a half smile. “I don’t know. Hell I don’t even know if we’ll live through this. I mean,” “I know,” she said, seeing the camera in the corner of the room out of her peripheral vision and she turned her head, brushing her lips against his. “Let’s just make the best of it for now, okay?” They sat that way for a few moments before she slid away, climbing off the edge of the bed, the sheet fluttering down around her feet as she picked up her dress. With a sigh, she slipped it over her head. The sad part about this was that she liked the dress. The simplicity of it. The simplicity of their lives… as fucked up as it was. It reminded her of the commune where she’d grown up in a way. She couldn’t help but wonder if maybe, just maybe when they got back to Ankeny if she could have a piece of that old life back. Adam wasn’t really the gardening type, or the outdoors type, or the growing garden type but that was okay. She loved him anyway. She could do all the work herself, she didn’t mind. She loved being out in the sun, and the kids loved it too. “You okay?” Mark asked as she stood there beside the bed, her arms around her waist as she was lost in thought. “I’m fine,” she replied. “I was just thinking…. This reminds me of home, in a really twisted way. Back at the commune, the garden…” Willow shook her head and fell down on the edge of the bed. She hadn’t really allowed herself to think about her friends and family back home on the commune, in the perfect and picturesque valley. The valley that was most likely gone. “I’m sorry, I was just,” “I know,” he said moving to the edge of the bed, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. “I know.” “Let’s get back,” she said letting out a deep breath and standing up. She walked over to his pants and grabbed them, tossing them at his face. He caught them with one hand and stood up, slipping them on. “I think maybe I won that last race,” she said with a smile, picking up his shirt and holding it out to him. “You lost that one.” “I’ll just have to try harder next time,” Mark said with a laugh, pulling his shirt on. Edited by LadyRahl, Oct 30 2009, 09:56 PM.
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| Cale Raizer | Oct 30 2009, 11:42 PM Post #9 |
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Shrimp Po'Boy
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Bridgette watched Mark and Willow leave, with a smile on her face. It was good to see, that even in these times, in this situation, two people could come together like that. She knew it wasn't like that for everybody, however. A few of the 'harems' around the camp weren't getting along near as well as Willow and Mark, or her and Danny. It didn't really matter in the long run, Bridgette supposed. She held on to the hope, the beleif, that somehow, they would get out of this. Zeke or Domenica might call it divine intervention, or fate, but whatever the name, she knew they would get out. Somehow. She got back to work, tearing up the soil with the claw-like tool, the name of which escaped her at the moment. She had never been an ardent gardener- not hard to beleive, considering she used to live in Chicago- but she was starting to see why some people got enjoyment out of it. She gazed wistfully around the abandoned lot, imagining the lush gren plants and colorful flowers that would hopefully bloom. The garden represented hope and unity for the camp, and she thought it would show. Danny continued his digging, humming what she recognized as the tune from The Brady Bunch. Bridgette grinned, happy to see Danny enjoying himself. Bridgtte thought she might have had her initial assumptions about him wrong. He was obviousley very like a child, but his mind wasn't that of a childs. He was actually very intelligent. Bridgette thought again of how trustworthy he was around here. The guards wouldn't hesitate to give him a chisel or other tool and then turn their back on him. Bridgette thought they might be able to use that somehow. If they could find a decent hiding spot, then they could have Danny collect all sorts of tools, and maybe use them later... Yea, right, Bridgette scoffed to herself, leaning on the clawed tool. Even if they could succesfully hide all those tools, they wouldn't be much use against a hundred soldiers with automatic weapons. Still, it might be worth a try. Her thoughts turned to Zeke, who was probably still in Ankeny at this point. What he he make of this? Knowing Zeke, he would be content to sit there, and take it, without even thinking of retaliating against his tormentors. She wondered what he would make of their plans to escape, to fight back. He probably wouldn't help, but he wouldn't hinder them, either. She wasn't even sure he would choose to escape, even if their plan worked. Maybe there was merit to hiding tools, Bridgette thought. they may not be much, but you never really knew when something like that could come in handy. She turned to ask Danny what he thought of the idea, and gasped when she saw he was right next to her. "Sorry!" He said, blushing, "I didn't mean to scare you!" "Its, it's ok," Bridgette said, her heart thumping madly in her chest, "Just, warn me next time, ok?" "Ok," He said, nervousley digging his toe into the dirt. He had something in his hand. "Whatcha got there?" Bridgette asked, turning her attention back to the dirt. She turned when he presented his hand. In his hand was a white rose bud. Bridgette looked at it, it was beautiful! "Danny, where did you get that?" "From there," He said, pointing to a small shrub they had yet to plant, "I saw it, and thought you might like it." Bridgette smiled, "That's sweet, Danny." "Here, let me," He said. He stood her up, and with care, he twined the rose bud in her hair. She smiled, "Thank you, Danny." she looked him in the eyes, and he blushed, but kept looking at her eyes. He was so sweet, so kind, so gentle. It wasn't fair that he was here, hell, it wasn't fair for any of them. "Its not fair..." Bridgette said, "It's not fair what they're doing to you." "What is?" Danny asked, confused. "Nothing," Bridgette said, stepping closer to him, "Danny, hold me?" she stepped closer, and folded her arms around him, holding him tight. He akwardly put his arms around her, too, clearly confused. Well, Bridgette thought, time to give him something he's familiar with. "Follow me, Danny," Bridgette said, grabbing his hand, and leading him with purposeful strides. "Where are we going?" Danny asked, allowing himslef to be led. "We're going to prove that they can't control our lives forever," Bridgette said, walking up to a small, abandoned supply shed near the garden. No one went in there anymore, and it would be perfect for what Bridgette was about to do. When they were inside, Bridgette closed the door, and slide a heavy crate in front of it. "Bridgette, what are you doing?" Danny asked. "This!" Bridgette said, walking up to him, and kissing him, hard, on the lips. He wa ssurpised, but managed to return the kiss, with vigor. After a few moments, Bridgette broke away, and pushed Danny, sending him sprawling on the floor, "Wha?" He asked, but stopped as Bridgette pulled off her dress. "Just relax, and enjoy," Bridgette said, lowering herself on top of him.... Ten minutes later, Danny was asleep, having finished up. He was snoring contendly, leaving Bridgette to recoup as best she could. Damn, but he was good! Bridgette wished all men were like that, maybe then she wouldn't have turned to women. She rolled over, stumbling to find her feet... When CRACK, one of her feet broke through the floor. She gasped, falling over, barely catching herself in time. Panting hard, she slowly pulled her foot out, noticing with releif that there was no blood, though a nice bruise was forming up. Scowling, she looked at the hole in the floor. The scowl dissappeared into a smile, however, at what she saw. There wa sa hole, dug into the earth under the floor, possibly an old fox den or the like. It was big, easily big enough to hide a bundle of tools, or other supplies. Suddenly, Bridgette's idea of hiding things away seemed a whole lot more plausible. |
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"Alright, I've been thinking. When life gives you lemons, don't make lemonade. Make life take the lemons back! Get mad! I don't want your damn lemons, what am I supposed to do with these? Demand to see life's manager! Make life rue the day it thought it could give Cave Johnson lemons! Do you know who I am? I'm the man whose gonna burn your house down! With the lemons! I'm gonna get my engineers to invent a combustible lemon that burns your house down!" | |
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| Deleted User | Oct 31 2009, 12:42 AM Post #10 |
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Deleted User
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Cat Hansen - All These Lives OOC: The following broadcast is from 6 December 2008 “Mornin’ ‘fornians. You’re tuning in to K106.8 Jahmon Radio. I’ve got a serious topic this morning that I need to bring to attention strictly for safety’s sake. Three days ago young Jenna Trout was kidnapped. Thankfully she was found and the perpetrator caught. But watch your kids, people. For real, Jenna’s only seven. This crap happens all the time everywhere. And I’m not trying to freak anyone out. Just… be careful please. Anyway, the girl is fine and her parents can breathe again. I had no idea though that there are at least three missing children in my zip code. THREE. That’s ridiculous. I live in a kinda small area. So please, report suspicions, watch the pups, and keep your eyes open. I found this tune awhile back. It’s by Daughtry, the first man to make American Idol look cool. Kudos, man. Here it is, All These Lives on K106.8 Jahmon Radio.” --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cat looked down at Lex and Callie and felt something he hadn’t in awhile. Hope. These two young kids living in a world falling to shit… it was incredible. Here they sat, playing happily, their parents in parts unknown to them. And they were alright. Sam was taking such good care of them too. Cat had really grown to love that old man. He was like a father he had never had, even when his dad was present. He really hoped that when things truly calmed down, if they ever did, he and Sam could just hang out. It had been so long since he’d had a family-esque relationship with anyone, besides his mother of course. And in these people he started to see reflections of faces he’d missed for years or yearned for once upon a time. Like Sam, the father figure he’d wanted since before he could remember. Adam reminded him much of his brother with his fun loving attitude. Despite the fact that Adam was younger than Cat, he still had so many of Hank’s qualities. Someone else recently had come to remind him of his sibling from a time almost forgotten. Zeke had many attributes as well that Hank had possessed when alive. This air of knowledge. This… likeability. Hank had always been that way. Both of these men reminded him of the Buddha Gotama in the book Siddhartha. Everything about them: the way they walked, spoke, smiled was peaceful. And for the first time he truly felt like he belonged somewhere. Here with these people, his little rag tag fam. He wouldn’t have it any other way… well… besides the world as a whole again. |
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| WeBandOfBuggered | Oct 31 2009, 08:33 PM Post #11 |
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Shrimp Po'Boy
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Alex - Fallen Ally Guns blazed. Flashlights flickered. People screamed. “Why the fuck do I feel like I’m the final reel of a Frankenstein movie?” Alex asked as they moved towards the gas station. Adam grinned and clutched his arm as the two men entered the gas station. Alex pulled the door shut and placed a brick to keep it from opening. “How bad you hurt?” “I don’t know...how’s it look?” Adam pulled his jacket off. “Dude, I’m not a doctor.” It didn’t look that bad, but hey…who knew? They moved farther into the gas station and entered the storage room, then freezer door. Roughly a dozen more armed men were on the other side, they raised their guns and fired. Adam jumped out of the way but Alex wasn’t so lucky. His body spun and twitched like a ragdoll as hundreds of rounds impacted his entire body. “Noooooooooooooooooooooo!” Adam screamed as the soldiers shifted their aim, blowing his head to pieces. Panting, Alex jerked awake, staring around the small room he was in. Knowing sleep would not return, Alex left his bunk and strode toward the empty bunkroom they were storing Adam’s body in until they good give him a proper burial. He grabbed a chair from the dining area, steeled his nerves and entered the room. Adam was lying prone on the single bed bolted to the wall in the far corner, Alex walked over to him and pulled back the sheet covering him, looking at his friend’s corpse. “I’m sorry buddy.” He pulled the wedding ring out of his pocket and twirled it briefly. “It should’ve been me bro.” Alex sat there for several minutes, tears streaming down his face before he stood and pulled two quarters out his pockets. He placed one over each of Adam’s eyes, took his chair and moved to the door. Standing in the doorframe, he looked back. “Godspeed good buddy. I won’t let the rats get you.” With that, Alex walked back to the dining hall and pulled out his battered deck of cards, playing solitaire.. As dawn broke of Fort Dodge, Alex finally slept. |
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| Misbehaver | Nov 1 2009, 12:01 AM Post #12 |
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Shrimp Po'Boy
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OOC: Slightly confused about the continutiy of the last couple Fort Dodge scenes, so I'm just going to pick it up where Marv left off. Hope it doesn't screw anyone up. Sorry it's so short. IC: Spoon, Ruben - If I Only Could As they watched it open the light was too much for them to see the contents at first. Rubén turned his head from the light as the door moved higher, finally he heard a latching sound and turned back to look into the room, as his eyes adjusted he didn’t know what to say, “Fuck me.” Was all he heard and he looked at Alex who was just as shocked as the rest of them but had managed to say what they were all thinking. Spoon stared a few moments at the vast chamber before them. Shock and awe were overused words from an overrated crisis. This was different. This staggered him. "Holy shit," he managed to sputter. Was this why he came here? The unrelenting, uncompromising, unloving voice that drove him to this very place at this very moment; was this what it had wanted for him? "You alright there, Spoon?" Ruben asked. "Yeah," he replied. "Yeah, I'm fine. I just...I'm sorry. I can't do this right now." He turned from the open door, and started back down the corridor. "Wait, Spoon. You gotta come in with us." "Why?" "What do you mean, why? You want to walk away from this?" "What is THIS, Ruben? That," he pointed to the open door. "That fucking room? Do you know why I came to Fort Dodge?" "No," Ruben said. "Neither do I. I have no fucking clue what the hell I'm doing here, except that some larger-than-me force told me to come here." "It's the same with us, Spoon. Don't you see that it's not just some coincidence? We were supposed to run into each other." "So you've got the answers for me then? Huh? Fire away. Tell me why I had to come here. Better yet, tell me why Marie had to die, for me to get here." Ruben was silent. The glare in SPoon's eyes told him that no answer would be met with kindness. The small man looked ready to devour someone more ferociously than the murderers they'd battled earlier. Spoon breathed deep, and slow. He closed his eyes for a moment, seeing only his beloved sister in the darkness, before opening them and speaking. "Ruben, I spent my entire life trying to protect my sister from this world. I sweat, and I fought, and I bled to keep her safe, and keep her happy. I did horrible things, out of sheer love. Then, the world fucking ends. And I lead her to death. The only thing I had in this world that wasn't evil, or tainted, and I killed her. Now you tell me, what is the point in that?" Ruben thought carefully before speaking. "I don't know. I cant lie to you. I don't fully understand anything that has happened." Spoon began saying something before Ruben cut him off. "But there's a way to find out. People who can give you more answers than I can. In Ankeny. People just like you, and me. Lost, confused, but working together to fix this god damn problem." "And they can make sense of all this for me?" Ruben tried to force a half-smile, and failed. "Maybe. If you come with us." Spoon let out a heavy sigh, and shrugged. "Maybes aren't good enough for me anymore." He turned from Ruben and began walking. This was it, he thought. Something embedded deep in his mind had led him here, and Marie to death, and now, it was over. He had nowhere left to go, and no voice guiding him there. If he could onl turn back the clock. If he could go back, just a few years. If he could have tried the honest way, and kept him and his sister away from the uglier side of life, he knew that none of this wouldn't happened. He also knew it was ridiculous to think that. The world was bigger than him and his problems, and not all life and existence hinged on his bad decisions. But in this moment, it did. "Spoon, Ruben called." Spoon stopped, and turned his head slightly, not wanting to see anyone but his sister right now. "You're not the only one to have lost something." Spoon almost laughed. "No," he said turning to look Ruben in the eyes. "But I don't expect anything more from anyone else who has." "Women," Ruben blurted out, thinking it was the only thing that might deter Spoon's departure. "What?" "The women, all of them. They were taken away." Spoon turned completely around. He eyes Ruben intensely, his gaze alerting the other man that he too had fell vvictim to a similar theft. "They tried to take Marie, not even three days ago." "We need all the help we can get to get them back." Spoon felt a tinge in the back of his head. A flicker of some instinct that he thought had died with his sister. "What do we do?" "Come with us back to Ankeny. Hear us out and make your own decisions. That's all I ask." Spoon thought for what felt like years. His breathing steadied, and his fists, which hadn't unclenched since he found her body loosened, and the watch nearly fell from his grasp. "I think we need to take another look in that room first." Then it came back. The voice, the instinct, both of them at once and in unison, teling him the same thing Go forward. Protect. Save. Live. For her. Ruben smiled, and patted Spoon on the back as he walked past him toward the door. "So, what horrible things are you talking about, exactly? Spoon spoke without taking his eyes off the doorway. "Long story. We'll talk on the way back to Ankeny. The pair walked back to the open chamber. To what purpose, and what fate, neither of them knew. Edited by Misbehaver, Nov 1 2009, 12:05 AM.
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mike was still in his chair being eatenchair
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| bebeluv1 | Nov 1 2009, 10:33 AM Post #13 |
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Nemesis
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Tom, Zeke, Sam--All aboard the crazy train Tom before slipping into a coma ![]() ![]() Tom after waking up from coma Tom didn’t want to talk to anyone. He was glad Ruben was gone—he didn’t want to talk to Ruben. It seemed to him like everything went to hell in a handbasket since he’d been comatose. It was disturbing. What was going on in Ankeny was disturbing. What was going on in Davenport was even more disturbing still. Tom’s lip curled up in disgust as he finished clipping his hair—he’d really needed a haircut—and then looked at himself in the steamy bathroom mirror. Really looked. He was so much more rested now, and it showed. He looked healthy again. And his back hardly hurt at all. Tom admired how tall he was (well over six feet), and how fit. It was a good body. Tom smiled and set the scisssors down on the edge of the sink. He finished toweling off and exited the bathroom. He heard the children playing downstairs, and the murmuring voices of Sam and Zeke talking. Tom steeled himself for the inevitable trek back downstairs. There were going to be questions. And he didn’t have any answers. None that made any sense. Tom pulled on some jeans and his black Encinitas Fire Dept shirt that he’d removed from the packed bag he’d left in his SUV since he’d arrived in Ankeny. He ran his hand down his tattooed left arm. Maybe for the first time in a long time, Tom appreciated this machine that held his soul. It had been years since he’d felt so good, and so pain-free. It was strange how he could feel so good now, when everyone else was feeling worse. “It just seems strange to me, that’s all,” Sam was saying, taking a sip of the organic brew that Zeke had prepared. It wasn’t Folgers, but Sam supposed it was ok. “We can’t always question why things are the way they are, Sam. Life doesn’t work like that. We should just be grateful that he’s awake and well,” Zeke said softly, and put his hand on Sam’s. Sam discreetly removed his hand from under Zeke’s (he was trying to change, but dammit the man was still a queer and it just didn’t feel right holding hands with a queer). “I guess,” Sam started. “Uh-oh, my ears are burning,” Tom smirked as he entered the kitchen, looking refreshed and handsome. “Guess that means that I’m being talked about.” “Nice haircut,” Sam commented, “now what about the shave?” He couldn’t help it. He was a dad and a businessman and 5 o’clock shadows were messy and unprofessional in his book. At least Adam was always clean-shaven. Thinking about that made Sam’s heart hurt. He hoped with a deep fervor that his son was safe. Tom laughed and stroked his chin. “I kind of like it. Thought I’d give it a try, see what happens.” His tone sobered quickly and he shot Sam a knowing look. “Adam always shaved, huh?” The comment was innocent enough, but it shook Sam to the core. It was the tone of Tom’s voice. Mocking, or so Sam imagined. You’re being paranoid, old man, Sam thought. And it was true enough. He’d been taking a lot of things the wrong way since his worry for his son had grown over the past two weeks. Zeke watched Tom carefully. There was something different about him, almost…..regal. Whatever Tom had gone through in his coma, it seemed to have healed his bleeding heart. He obviously worked through a lot of his anguish through his mental shrink while he was under. Zeke was happy for him. But now would come the hard questions, and he hoped that Tom had the answers. “Tom, we need to talk about some things you said when you woke up,” Zeke started. Tom held up his hand. “I know, I know. You have questions. It’s fine, and I’ll do my best to answer them. I just hope you won’t be too disappointed with the answers.” “I can’t be disappointed with the truth,” Zeke said, smiling faintly. “Okay, then, shoot,” Tom said as he pulled out a chair and sat down, kicking his legs out and lounging. Zeke licked his lips. He didn’t know why, but he felt really uncomfortable even saying the word. But it had to be said. “The nurses said you were babbling on and on about some….about ‘Bathin’. Who or what is that?” “I……don’t know,” Tom said, his face pulled into a thoughtful frown. “I don’t remember saying that, to be honest. Maybe I was just speaking nonsense.” “No, Tom, I don’t think so.” Zeke shifted in his chair and leaned forward, toward Tom. “Just think really hard—did you see something while you were in a coma? “ Tom snorted. “See something? I saw a lot of things, but nothing weird. Just memories and stuff. I could hear what was going on around me, but I couldn’t speak no matter how hard I tried. Maybe someone around me said that word and I heard it and repeated it ?” Zeke appraised Tom thoughtfully for a moment, and then spoke softly, urgently. “Tom, if God sent you a vision, you don’t have to be afraid. You can tell me, and Sam, and we won’t think you’re crazy.” “Well, I might think you’re nuts,” Sam joked, hoping to relax the mood, which had grown somewhat tense. Zeke shot him a pleading look and Sam shut up, crossing his arms over his chest stubbornly as he did so. Tom rubbed his chin, his eyes narrowed in thought. “I….there was something that I saw but….I don’t think you want to hear about it,” he sighed regretfully. “It’s ok,” Zeke said kindly. “Tell us.” Tom suddenly smiled brightly, pointing at Sam. “Well, you’re going to die of a heart attack between the legs of a whore…..and you,” Tom said, turning to Zeke, “you’re going to be crucified like the Jesus you pathetically mimic.” Tom laughed merrily and stood up. “Are you happy?” “Why you little son of a bitch!” Sam hissed, his face growing red with anger. “How dare you play games like that with us when we’re trying to help you!” “Sam, please, it’s ok” Zeke said, his face turning from concern to wariness as he watched Tom. “Tom….” “Zeke, shut the fuck up, all right?” Tom said mildly. “You know what? This place is depressing. I think I might go for a little walk.” Tom sauntered over to the garage door next to the kitchen and opened it. “Toodle-loo, assholes.” When Tom had gone, Zeke and Sam looked at each other. “Guess he wasn’t ready to talk about it yet,” Zeke said. “Guess not,” Sam answered, making a mental note to hold a grudge against Tom at least for a little while. Edited by bebeluv1, Nov 1 2009, 10:34 AM.
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| LadyRahl | Nov 1 2009, 03:19 PM Post #14 |
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Supreme Goddess Of All Things Bright And Shiny
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Zeke/Sam - Dim “What was that all about?” Sam asked, his brows drawn together and he looked at Zeke. “I have no idea,” Zeke replied. There was something about Tom, something different but he couldn’t put his finger on it. For the first time in a very long time he had no idea what was going on, what he was supposed to do. He felt blind, and it was a feeling that he didn’t like. You just have to have faith, that’s what he kept telling himself. God has a plan, even for Tom. Of course that didn’t do anything to make him feel any better. “Zeke,” “I don’t have all the answers, Sam.” Zeke replied taking a sip of tea. “I wish I did, but I don’t.” “You think he’s okay?” Zeke looked towards the door that Tom had walked through, thinking for a few moments before speaking. “We’ve all been through a lot over the last few weeks. It would stand to reason that it would affect us all differently.” He was silent again for a minute. “Do you want to go after him?” “Hell no,” Sam said with a snort. “Not after what he just said. At least he didn’t say anything to the kids.” Zeke nodded, smiling as Callie let out a squeal of delight, rolling on the carpet with Shanna. The children had missed everything, lost in the living room playing with the puppies. “Perhaps he just needs some time to morn his loss.” Sam frowned. “Perhaps? That doesn’t sound like you, Zeke.” Zeke gave him a half smile. “I don’t have all the answers Sam.” “I’m sorry,” Sam replied with a small laugh. “I know, I guess I’m just used to you always knowing the exact thing to say to make me feel better.” He ran his hand over his chin. “I just, I don’t know. I guess that just left me feeling rattled, you know? I mean, the tone of his voice when he mentioned Adam?” He shook his head. “It just, I don’t know, it shook me.” “You’re not the only one, to be honest.” Zeke replied. “Something just, something just doesn’t feel right about it.” He bit his lip for a second. “Maybe he saw something, something that scares him.” “Do you know anything about this Bathin?” Zeke shook his head. “No, it’s not familiar at all. Honestly? I feel like it should be, but it’s not.” Sam chuckled. “Maybe you should go and prey.” Zeke drank the last of his tea and carried the cup over to the sink, setting it inside. “I think I’ll go for a walk,” he replied. “I need to clear my head.” He walked out into the garage and headed down the driveway, taking a left at the end and taking the long way out towards the sports park. He had no idea where Tom had gone, and it wasn’t really on the top of his mind. Neither were the things that he had said about Sam’s death, about his own. Death was something that didn’t bother him. People spent far too much time obsessing over it, worrying over it. Getting into Heaven, going to Hell? It never really seemed important to him. What mattered to him, what had always mattered to him, was the here, now. The future, no one could predict it. No one could control it. All that you could control was today, this moment. What was bothering him was the sole fact that he felt blind. He just couldn’t figure out what was going on with Tom. Usually he had an idea, an idea of what was happening, what to do. This time though, this time there was nothing. It was like the path that he’d always walked had dimmed suddenly, the road seeming not so clear, the light not so bright. He shoved his hands into his pockets as he walked, really wishing Ruben was here. |
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| Mr_Blonde3 | Nov 1 2009, 06:51 PM Post #15 |
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Shrimp Po'Boy
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Sam was in the midst of making the kids lunch when a knock at the door interrupted him. Sam stepped out of the kitchen and walked to the door. He saw Ruben standing outside, looking vaguely uncomfortable. Sam opened up and and said, "Hello Ham. what can I do for you?" Ham smiled slightly and said, "Hello Sam. Sorry to bother you you at home." Sam said, "Not a problem, what can I do for you?" Ham said, "They've been having problems with the circuits in the emergency rooms. We've got a bit of a rush situation. A 14-year old boy fell off of his bike. We've got most of the circuits running, but these seem to be hold-outs. They were prepping him, and when they hit the lights everything went off. There's emergency power, but who knows how long that will last. I know you're probably busy, but..." Sam said, "Say no more. Nothing I could be doing is more important than this. I'm alone at the house right now...Can you watch Callie and Lex for me for a bit?" Ham nodded and said, "They'll be perfectly fine." Sam said, "I've got some soup going. Lex likes turkey sandwiches on white bread. Sliced cheese, and miracle whip. And the crusts have to be cut off. Callie will probably just want soup. Maybe a peanut butter sandwich." Ham said, "I can remember that." Sam led him inside and the kids roared. They had grown very close to Ruben over a short time. Sam said, "I'm going to leave you with Uncle Ham for awhile. Is that okay with you?" The kids both said yes at the same time. Sam said, "I'll be back as soon as I can." Ham smiled and said, "Take your time. I can handle these two." Sam turned and headed for the doorway. He turned back and said, "You know something? There was a time when I would have despised you for your....Predelictions...But I Have to say, you're alright, Ham." Ham smiled and said, "Thanks. You're alright too, Sam." Sam turned and headed out the door. He got behid the wheel of the late-model Charger that he'd found, unused in a driveway here. It smelled a little of cigarette smoke, and the owner's tase in soundtracks was a little eccentric, including Dawn of the Dead, Day of the Dead, and Night of the Comet soundtracks, but the car was a good runner. He listened to MacArthur Park on the way to the hospital, pulled in, and set to work. ************************************************************************************ Sam had been thinking about Adam. He knew that and wasn't even thinking. He Hit the circuit breaker and the shock was almost instantaneous. Sam bellowed, "Motherfucker! Goddamnit! Ground the fucking wires you stupid son of a bitch! GROUND!" He was waving his hurt fingers in the air when a low voice behind him said, "Everything okay in here?" Sam turned, embarassed, looking at the attractive female woman, obviously a Doctor, Who was standing behind him. Sam looked sheepish, sucking on his burned fingers. The woman said, "May I have a look?" Sam held out his fingers. She gave them a quick look and said, "I've got some salve we should put on that." Sam said, "Right. I just...There's one thing I need to do here, and then..." The woman said, "I'll wait." Sam carefully finished up the wiring, his fingers throbbing. Electrical burns were always the worst. He flipped a switch. This time, there was no spark. Sam screwed the cover back on. The female Doctor applauded lightly. She said, "You're quite handy." Sam said, "I've had a lot of practice." The doctor smiled and said, "I just bet you have." Sam followed her, eyes widening just a little. Was she flirting? She was older, he could tell. At least 10 years older than Domenica. She still looked very good, probably far younger than she really was, but she had a poise that only came with age. The sound of her expensive prada heels echoed down the hallway as she led him into one of the examination rooms. She said, "Sit there, would you?" Sam sat on the small table and The Doctor turned and rummaged in the cabinet for the salve. Sam said, "Thank you." The doctor turned, smiling slightly. She said, "Always glad to help a man who works with his hands." She turned and walked back over. She said, "My name is Sheila Moran. And you are?" Sam said, "Barkley...Sam Barkley." Sam felt a moment of horror, realizing that he'd said his name with the James Bond catchphrase. Sheila either didn't notice or didn't care. She brushed her hair back and said, "How long have you been in Ankeny?" Sam said, "Not long. we came in on the tour bus." Sheila said, "Barkley....Are you Adam Barkley's dad?" Sam nodded. Sheila said, "My god, what an artist. It may surprise you, based on my age, but I dearly love your son's band." Sam said, "Come on, you can't be THAT old. You talk like you're 90." Sheila laughed and said, "Well, I'm 51." Sam said, "Surely you can't be serious." Sheila said, "I'm very serious. And don't call me Shirley." Sam said, "Well, you look radiant." Sheila said, "Thank you. I spend a lot of time in front of a mirror, that's for sure. It's ridiculous, really. Being so vain in a time like this. All these people dead, and here I am, making sure my hair and make-up are in place." Sam said, "It's just habit. You're merely doing the routine you would have done before everything turned to crap. It doesn't make you a bad person." Sheila said, "Thanks. That's very...Nice." She swabbed some of the salve on his fingers, then bandaged them. She said, "Speaking of your son, where is he?" Sam said, "It's a long story." Sheila smiled and said, "Well, I was thinking of stepping out for a cigarette. Want to join me?" Sam said, "Well, I...Don't really smoke." Sheila said, "Maybe I'd just like the company?" Sam said, "Oh....Right." Sam followed her down the hall. He said, "When did you get here?" Sheila said, "Oh, a week or two ago. I don't remember. And before you say anything, yes, I know smoking is bad, but technically, I'm not a doctor...Only a vet. But I'm learning." Sam paused for a moment, then laughed. Sheila joined him. They stepped outside and she slipped a pack of cigarettes out of the pocket of her white coat. She lit up and said, "So where's your son?" Sam sighed. He told her the story of the hijacking, the kidnapping. Sheila went through one cigarette, then another. She was halfway through her third by the time he'd finished. When he was done, she said, "Wow." Sam nodded. He said, "I'm scared. He's out there, risking his life, potentially dead, and....If something happens to him, it could very well be my fault." Sheila said, "No it's not." She lightly touched his arm. She said, "You just gave him an option. It was his choice. You can't blame yourself for that." Sam said, "I hope not.....but still, I gave him the choice. If I hadn't noticed....." Sheila said, "Not your fault." She put a finger to his lips. She said, "What are you doing tonight?" Sam said, "Not much...I've got Adam's kids, so we'll probably..." Sheila said, "Care for a visitor? Perhaps a drink?" Sam said, "No, I don't mind at all." Sheila said, "I'm done here at 7:00. You live near Zeke, right?" Sam nodded. He gave her the address. He said, "I'm honored for the visit, but...Why?" Sheila said, "You mean, You look like, you, I look like me, that kind of thing?" Sam nodded. Sheila said, "You're nice. And respectful. You're the first man that I've ever talked to that didn't look at my rack 15 seconds after meeting me." Against his will, Sam's eyes fell to her chest. He went red-faced. Sheila laughed and said, "It's alright. I'll be there, 7:10 ish..." Sam said, "Alright sounds like a...." "SAM!" Sam turned. Running up the fire escape towards them was Cat. Behind him, looking sad, was Zeke. Sam said, "What? What is it? Is something the matter with the kids?" He glanced at Sheila, who looked as nervous as Sam did. Cat said, "No, not the kids...Adam..." Sam grabbed Cat's shirt in a vice-grip and siad, "What? WHAT?" Cat said, "I got the radios working. Adam....Awww fuck Sam, Adam's dead. I'm so fucking SORRRY." Cat started blubbering. Sam walked slowly down the fire escape stairs. His head reeling. No...Absolutely not. Adam was NOT dead. He was NOT dead. He got to the bottom and made eye contact with Zeke. Zeke's face totally drove it home. Sam grabbed his shirt and said, "Why..?" Zeke shook his head. Sam said, "Goddamnit....WHY!?" Zeke only looked at the ground. Sam released him and stepped away. He looked at the sky and said, "WHY?!" Zeke said, "Sam, you can't...." Sam said, "I gave everything to you! My entire fucking LIFE! You killed my wife bringing him into the world, and just when we were reconnecting, you take him from me! Are you enjoying yourself? Is my life fucking FUNNY!?" Sam sank to his knees. He said, "I've done nothing but follow your word....And you've taken everything from me..." Sam bent down, sobbing, his face meeting the pavement. Sam said, "Everyhing I love...you just keep taking and taking and taking....My wife dies for him, and now...Why?" Sam felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Zeke. He furiously shook himself away. He said, "Don't touch me! Don't..." He staggered away, weeping. He walked away from the hospital, hunched over and sobbing. His son was dead...He was partially responsible...He was dead. Sam kept walking, sobbing, looking for a place where he could cry and drink. Dr. Sheila:
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7:43 PM Jul 10