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Locked Topic
Scene Seven: Underground
Topic Started: Oct 29 2009, 09:29 PM (997 Views)
bebeluv1
Nemesis
Mark--A Shot in the Dark

Mark watched Willow walk out towards the garden through the window, his hand petting his beard absently. He already knew the results of her pregnancy test—he probably knew before she did. It was a gut feeling he had, and he’d been right. The slip of paper he had in his hand proved it. People around here sure loved slipping pieces of paper into your hands. Soon, maybe they’d be slipping their own papers, only to each other and not to the guards.

Mark debated whether or not he should follow Willow to the garden, but in the end he decided that he needed some time alone to think. It was easier to deal with when getting other women pregnant was just an idea and not a reality. It wasn’t an idea anymore, and Mark was having a harder time with it than he had ever imagined.

Mainly, it was because he didn’t even know if his wife and son were still alive. If they were, then he was committing the ultimate betrayal here. Even if they weren’t still alive, the fact that he’d adapted to his new life so….smoothly, well, it made Mark feel a little guilty. “Not guilty enough that you kept your hands off Willow,” he chided himself. It was true, though. He was falling for another woman. In the middle of Hell, he managed to still find time to cheat on his wife.

Mark knew that he was being too hard on himself; people do anything they can to feel like normal human beings in times of crisis and stress. But still, were these new feelings he was having right? Were they perverse? He didn’t know. He just knew that he was finding a little happiness amongst all this pain, and it was a little bit of hope to hold on to. It was proof that there was still good in the world, and that people still had the potential for good, and to love. Even here.

Mark peeled himself away from the window and sat down in a nearby armchair with his guitar. One good thing about being a musician was that it was easy to pour your feelings out in a song. It was better than any journal-writing that was for sure. Mark strummed absently for awhile until he wrapped his mind around the ever-elusive tune he was trying to catch, and finally, he caught it. It was a magic moment, discovering a song; it always was. Mark let the tune carry him away for awhile, and closed his eyes to forget this place.

“They’ve taken Peg!!”

Mark was jolted back into reality by the sound of Mary’s scream. He opened his eyes and saw Mary running toward him, wild-eyed and scared.

Mark flung his guitar aside and sprang up from his chair to catch Mary, who was crying hysterically. “What do you mean, ‘taken her’?” Mark asked, stroking Mary’s back as she clung to him.

“They…..when her test came back negative, they took her away!” Mary’s voice was little more than a hoarse rattle, she’d been crying so hard.

“Shh…..” Mark tried to comfort Mary, but he knew that there was little comfort to be had. They all knew what happened to people who couldn’t do their jobs. He wasn’t going to be able to protect Peg anymore, it was out of his hands. Or was it?

“Let me see what I can do, ok?” he said, pulling Mary back and tilting her chin up so that he could look her in the eye.

Mary simply nodded, too upset for words.

“Go to the garden, stay with Willow, all right?” he said gently, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He guided her to the front door. “Stay with Willow,” he repeated.

Mark watched Mary head in the direction of the garden and then slipped on his shoes. He really didn’t have a plan, but he had to try to get Peg back. He couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t try. Mark strode over to Rita’s lodging, not worried about the consequences. Her residence was surrounded by armed guards, of course, and they predictably stopped him at the front door.

“Where do you think you’re going?” a guard sneered as he smacked his rifle against Mark’s chest to stop him.

“I need to see Rita,” Mark said somewhat angrily.

“Oh, do ya now?” the guard growled, exposing his perfect white canines. “And I suppose you have an appointment?” he said, mockingly.

“No,” Mark responded, compulsively rubbing the back of his neck and coming ‘round to his beard. “But I need to talk to her. It’s important. One of my women has been taken away.”

“Well that’s a downright shame, that is.” The guard spit on the ground and flicked his eyes over to his mate on the other side of Rita’s door. They shared a chuckle before the guard addressed Mark again. “Then I guess she didn’t do her job!”

“That’s just the thing,” Mark began, but was cut off by the guard’s gun connecting hard with his gut. Mark let out an “oof” and fell to one knee, hands automatically clutching his stomach where he’d been struck.

“You see, little man,” the guard sneered, “there’s one thing you just don’t seem to get, and that’s that Rita couldn’t give a shit less about you and your little sob story. The rules are the rules, and they ain’t gonna be changed because some bloke got a little soft hearted about his breeding mate.” The man bent over so that he could gloat into Mark’s face. “Now I suggest that you get your arse out of here before I decide to make an example of you for the other breeder men. You got that?”

Mark grit his teeth and nodded. He could do something stupid like retaliate against two armed guards and get killed, or he could try to find another way. Standing up shakily, still clutching his stomach, Mark backed away from Rita’s door while the guards laughed at him.

“That’s right, Pansy, get moving. Don’t you have fucking to do?” Mark heard the men laughing all the way down the lane away from Rita’s house.

Mark had one more chance to save Peg, and he hoped that he wouldn’t be too late. He should have thought of this sooner, but his worry for Peg had clouded his judgment. He knew now who his best chance for saving Peg was. Domenica.
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mdnjr70
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Shrimp Po'Boy
Domenica/Rita – Breeding Camps

Domenica looked at the young woman sitting there. She was sure Owen made a big deal out of getting her, probably scaring the hell out of everyone, but there was no other way to do it, she didn’t have the authority to take woman from their homes, but he did, “Tell Rita what you told me, you can be honest.” Peg looked at Rita her eyes dodging around the room, “well you treat us ok, it’s just.” She stopped and looked at Rita then back to Domenica. Peg licked her lips she had been playing with her dress and looking at anything but Rita. She wasn’t pregnant and it had been two weeks, she thought for sure they were going to hurt her when Owen came and took her from the house, she could still her Mary in her mind, “how can you expect us to have children with men we don’t even know, there’s more to it then biology and to expect results this soon.” She stopped feeling like she had said too much.

“Peg was a pediatrics nurse before all this happened.” Domenica said looking at her handing Rita the file. Rita frowned, “She was?” Domenica nodded, “That’s why I thought I would bring her here. The problem with your doctors is they are all yes men and women, they’ll tell you what you want to hear, but Peg; she’s smart and has a background in the field, she’s the nearest to unbiased we have or that I could find that would at least talk to me.” Rita thought for a moment and looked at Peg, “Why didn’t you tell anyone about your background when you got here?” Peg shrugged, “No one asked, not until I talked to Domenica.” Rita frowned again, “what did you tell your house mates?” Peg looked at the floor, “I lied to them or didn’t say anything. I don’t know these people and they don’t know me. I thought if I told them they would think I was a spy for you or the doctors.” Rita nodded flipping her hair over her shoulder, “I can see that.” She looked at Domenica, “and how did you know about her?” Domenica smiled, “I read her file and when I found that she wasn’t pregnant after two weeks I asked her.” Domenica looked at Peg, “She had nothing to gain or loose by telling me and once I explained that it could help the others.”

Rita couldn’t help but laugh, “Fair enough. But you’re not pregnant so what’s the problem?” Rita said looking at Peg. Domenica looked at her speaking for the women, “the problem is two fold; first there is no test on earth short of taking a camera and looking in a woman’s uterus to know if she’s pregnant this early; I think all the test results are bogus to keep you unfocused. The other issue, as I see it, is what are you going to do with all these babies, we are in no situation to care for them, we can barely care for the people we have, things take time grow, animals take time to be raised canned goods and dried food will only out numbers for so long then we will have to rely on the food we grow and raise, how can we feed the children when they grown?” Domenica said reaching out and touching Rita’s arm, “consider what your worries are and add babies and pregnant woman on top off that.” Rita looked at her for a moment. “That would create additional trouble, wouldn’t it?” Domenica nodded.

Rita looked at Peg, “You may go.” Rita looked to the closed door of her office pushing the button on the speaker phone she spoke out, “Owen take Peg back to her house and be polite.” Owen stalked in the room looked at Rita and then to Peg who got up quickly. “Oh Peg.” Rita said looking at her smiling, Peg slowly turned and saw Rita, “Thank you.” Peg nodded her head and left the room with Owen closing the door behind them. Rita looked at Domenica, “Everything is falling apart and I still don’t know anything else about this Bathin, he could be anyone, he could be anywhere, even in Ankeny with those people?” Domenica nodded noting that this was the first time that Rita referred to Ankeny and people not as ‘them’ or ‘fools’, “I don’t think he’s there, I think he’s here among us, but I’m not sure and that worries me as well but I know Misty and Edward will find out all they can about him, I have faith in them.”

“I’m glad you’re so certain.” Rita said getting up and looking out the window to Davenport, “you know it was all so clear, every detail in my head, I saw it all, children happy playing, the city alive the center of the new world it was all there I saw it all and now.”

“Things change, visions aren’t certain.” Domenica sighed thinking about her own vision and where they lead her, “At least I don’t think they are.” Rita looked at her, “So you think the breeding camps are a bad idea?” Domenica nodded, “I do, but you know I’ll support you. It’s just, Rita look at these reports 57 women pregnant in one week, how can that be, some of them have been here less time then I have. It’s just not possible, someone is doing this, they are faking it, why I don’t know, but.” She looked at Rita who frowned again it was the look of a women who saw her future slipping through the cracks, “look, my last period was right before the meteor, that would mean I still have at least 1 week before my next one, even if I had sex with ever man here every hour, how could I be pregnant? Better yet how could anyone tell if I was? Especially this soon?”

Rita inhaled deeply, “I just.”

“You wanted it all so bad and so quickly and who would have said no to you. Maybe some of the woman are pregnant, but not the numbers in these reports, I had Peg looked at them too, she doesn’t believe it either, physically it’s not possible.” Domenica smiled at her, “Maybe if we close the breeding camp, get rid of the cameras in the homes, keep the houses, let the people couple with who they want you’ll kill two birds with one stone. First, you’ll give this Bathin less power for a resistance and second you’ll have a more relaxed environment for nature to work.” Domenica said clicking her nails and looking at Rita. It was a lot to hear and a lot to mull over, but Domenica wasn’t making any of this up, she had a silly little thing called science on her side and that couldn’t be argued against, well unless God decided to change the rules, she thought.

Rita looked at her, “I knew when I met you we would be friends. I know I’ve asked of you and done some horrible things to you, but” Domenica held up her hand and looked at her and smiled softly, “we all do crazy things from time to time and we learn and grow. You’re a good person, I see it in you.” Rita smiled, “Thank you Domenica.”

“Is there anything else I can do for you?” Domenica asked looking at her she should go and check on how the rec tents where being taken down how those people were being integrated into the rest of the camp. Rita walked over to her chair and sat down looking at Domenica, “He comes to the men in their dreams but not the woman right.” Domenica nodded, “That is the rumor and the buzz.” Rita looked at her, “How many of the woman trust you?” Domenica couldn’t help but laugh, “maybe 10 if that. I’m not popular around here. You’re people think of me as a slave and the people in the camp.” Rita looked at her, “look at you like an informant.” Domenica nodded sadly.

“See what you can do, see how many woman you can get to know and find out if their men are talking to them about this Bathin and get the word out that there is a rumor that the breeding camps are being closed and the cameras are going to be removed form the homes, but don’t say anything more, at least not yet.” Rita looked at her and added, “Can you do that?”

Domenica nodded, “Of course I can, but why only a rumor?” Rita smiled, “I have an idea, but I don’t want to say anything yet, just keep it a rumor something to brighten their spirits and maybe loosen their lips towards you.”

Domenica looked at her, she could see Rita was planning something she didn’t know what it was, but she knew her part and she would do what was asked of her, luckily Rita was starting to have a greater change of heart so the things she was being asked to do at least were in line with what she wanted to do now.
May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference.
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LadyRahl
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Willow/Bridgette - You're going to wish this had gone differently

“What’s wrong? Mary?” Willow asked, brushing her hands off on her dress, Mary having collapsed on the ground beside her on her knees, sobbing. She reached out, touching Mary’s arm gently. “What happened? The baby?”

“They took Peg,” Mary groaned.

“They what?” Willow asked, her browns drawing together in a frown. “What do you mean they took her?”

“When her test came back negative, they took her!” She yelled, amost hysterical. Several workers in the garden all turned to look at them and she ripped her arm away from Willow. “They dragged her away kicking and screaming! They took her!”

“They took her where?” Willow asked, the bottom of her stomach falling out. After two weeks? They took her away after two weeks? Did these people know NOTHING about the human reproductive system?!? Who the Hell was running this crazy train? Bozo the Clown? “Mary, where did they take her?”

“I don’t know,” Mary sobbed. “They wouldn’t tell me anything. They just laughed and took her. They said something about how she’d been promised to them or something, I don’t know!”

Willow stood up, walking over to the edge of the garden and brushing her feet off before slipping her sandles back on. Bridgette stopped what she was doing and looked at her.

“Willow?” Bridgette asked.

“This is crazy,” Willow said. “This is absolutely crazy,” she said shaking her head. “They don’t know the first thing about what they’re doing. This is the stupidest,” she ran her fingers through her long hair pulling it up off her neck and twisting it into a bun “most assisine, rediculous idea that I have ever had the misfortune to see and I’m putting and end to this.” Willow pulled off the gardening bib that she’d been wearing and tossed it down. “Babies, babies and babies. That’s all they give a damn about. Gods forbid that they actually respect the process and let nature take it’s course…” she continued to grumble to herself as she headed down the street towards the nearest guard walking his patrol, Mary coming after her quickly, Bridgett coming a few feet after.

“What do you want?” The guard asked. “Get tired of playing in the dirt.”

“I want to know where you took my housemate,” Willow said folding her arms over her chest, looking at him flatly.

“What the fuck’re you talking about?” He asked.

“Do you know nothing about how babies are made?” Willow snapped at him angrily. “Two weeks and she’s dragged from the house? By some fools saying that they’re owed? Did you all fail sex ed or were you to busy pulling your puds to pay attention?”

“Hey if she’s not producing,”

“We’re not a fucking assembly line, you asshat.” Willow snapped, not noticing as his grip tightened on his weapon. “Hate to break it to you, but that’s now how the ball fucking bounces. You don’t snap your fingers and say ta-dah there be a baby in thar!” Her voice carried a thick and mocking pirate accent to it.

“Willow,” Bridgette said reaching out and touching her shoulder warningly, the man’s face starting to get rather flushed and red.

“You’d better back off bitch,” he said taking an aggressive step towards her, unshouldering the weapon he was carrying.

“What’re you gonna do about it fucktard?” Willow snarled finally losing her temper. “You gonna fucking shoot me? She’d just LOVE that wouldn’t she, shooting a pregnant woman. Go on!” She said jabbing her finger in his shoulder. “Fucking shoot me you small cocked mother fucker! Let’s see of you have the fucking balls.”

“Jesus, Willow!” Bridgette cried wrapping her arms around Willow’s waste and pulling her back away from the guard. “Calm the fuck down!”

“Fucking let me go! Fucking mother fucking asshole!” Willow yelled, fighting Bridgette. “You think you’re a fucking man? SHOOT ME! Go ahead and shoot me! I dare you!! I fucking double dog dare you bitch!”

The guard swung his weapon up, just as Mary screamed, lunging at him, fingers curled into claws. The gunshots ripped through the air and Willow staggered backwards as a warm spray spattered over her face and front. Her breath caught in her throat and the fight drained from her body as she watched Mary’s body fall to the ground in front of her.

“Sweet mother earth,” Willow whispered as Bridgette’s arms let her go and she slipped down to her knees beside Mary, pulling the woman’s head into her lap as blood flowed from her mouth as she struggled to breathe. “Mary,” her next words were lost as she felt the hot barrell of the gun pressing against her forhead and she tilted her head up, her eyes following along the barrel to the guards hands and up to his furious eyes. She could see his finger twitching on the trigger, trying to pull it back.

She just knelt there, watching him, her body cold as she held Mary during her final moments. The guard finally pulled the gun away from her head, giving her a cold smile, an icy smile and he squatted down to look her level in the eyes.

“You’re going to really fucking wish I’d pulled that trigger.” He said, in a cold and happy done. “You’re going to pray for death long before he’s done with you.” The man stood up, a second later cracking the stock of the gun down over Willow’s head and walking away.

Stars flashed before her eyes, and she could feel something warm running down her face and she turned, looking at Bridgette, a glazed look in her eyes before her eyes fluttered and she sank to the ground unconscious.




OOC: Abrupt ending I know but I ran out of time.
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mdnjr70
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Shrimp Po'Boy
Rubén et al – The Road Home

Rubén sat in back of the truck as it rumbled down the road back to Ankeny. It had taken them hours to load up all the equipment they could and to secure the items they couldn’t. It was amazing the stuff they found there, the things they could easy move and take with them they did, the rest was left with 25 of Lieutenant Johnson’s best men to secure it along with radio communications and some heavy duty weapons, not to mention the use of the stuff they left there. The Lieutenant had already radioed ahead to let Captain Costa know they were on the way back, with a few losses, and to send more men and equipment to secure Fort Dodge and the road to Ankeny, there was no way they were going to loose this, not now, it was to important.

The last few hours everyone had been quiet Spoon was the only one talking and even then he was still distraught over his sister. Rubén didn’t blame him, hell he knew he would be in the same boat if it was one of his sisters. He hoped to God, no he knew that they never suffered like that, he knew it deep down to his core.

He looked out the window thinking of them, there had been no word from anyone or anything west of them sense the earthquakes began. He saw Ruby and Esme’s faces in his minds eye in his heart he knew they were gone they were in God’s hand. Finally, Rubén pulled himself from his thoughts of his family and looked at Spoon who had fallen silent, “I’m really sorry about your sister.” Rubén said looking at Spoon who looked over at him, “Thanks, it’s just really hard you know. To see her like that.” Rubén nodded, “I can’t imagine what it’s like for anyone really. I mean we’ve all lost so much.” Alex looked over his shoulder at him, how could anyone that handsome compare to what they’ve gone through in a safe haven to what he and Spoon had been through, “you seem to have done pretty good for yourself, this was your first trip out of Ankeny.” Rubén frowned, he thought he had it easy and maybe he had, but he had suffered just like the rest of them, “my folks and my three sisters and their families I lost contact with them right before the asteroid hit, they were all heading east from California, except my folks, they refused to leave. Friends were all in Utah so I have no idea about anyone I care about and I doubt I ever will.” Alex’s face flushed, “oh sorry. I just.” He looked down, “you seen to have it all together.”

Rubén laughed he had that way about him, he always looked like he had it together it was both a curse and a blessing, that was what made hiding so easy for him, “Not really, I mean I’m trying like everyone else, but the pain and hurt and lose are all still there.”

“Take it day by day and focus on the taste at hand.” Darren said looking in the review mirror, he was driving the truck the four men where in. He couldn’t think about his fiancé he knew she was gone, he felt it but excepting it was another story and right now he had a job to do.

“Pretty much all we can do.” Rubén said his eyes followed the landscape, it looked so much like Utah now, there where tall mountain and lakes and rivers. Ankeny was now a string of large Islands, the military had built a portable bridge, temporary solutions until they figured out how to connect to what was now the mainland, but that would be an issue for the Council to figure out along with so many other issues, it was going to be a big job and things would take years before they would seem normal again, if ever.

“Where you from?” Spoon looked at Rubén and asked, they hadn’t really gotten to get to know each other, not really. “Originally California but before this I lived in Utah, Salt Lake City.” He nodded looking out his own window. “You got to Iowa pretty quick.” Darren said looking at him surprised that is where he came from.

“I was in Des Monies on a business trip staying at the Marriott downtown. There is where Zeke found me, well we found each other I guess you would say, hell I don’t even know if my co-workers are alive or dead, I didn’t see them at the Ankeny camp. So I guess.” He stopped and leaned his head against the side of the truck feeling it rubble down the road, he wanted to get back to Zeke, he missed him, he didn’t like being gone this long from him, he had a way to make this all seem normal and natural he didn’t question things when he was around him. He couldn’t imagine doing this without Zeke.

“Sam was pretty messed up?” Alex said looking at Darren, “That is what CAT said on the radio. He didn’t handle it well, they found him at the Hospital to tell him, but Zeke and CAT did what they could.”

Rubén chuckled thinking of the sight. Sam probably feel apart or flew off the handle either way it was understandable loosing his only son, “So in other words they stayed clear and let Sam deal with in his own way.” Darren nodded and the truck cab feel silent again as they moved down the road.

“So what is Ankeny like, you all talk about it like its some Crystal City?” Spoon said looking around the cab and Alex nodded, he was kind of curious as well. Rubén sighed, “well it’s a town that is being rebuilt and updated and upgraded, so don’t expect a lot, but the town faired pretty well from the blast and people are working hard to bring it back most of the building did pretty good but some are complete gut jobs and a lot of people are still living in tents at the camp, but as homes are cleared from the safety inspectors people are getting moved in, it’s slow, but it’s moving along.” Rubén looked at he men, happy to be talking about something other then loss and pain, “on the plus side there is power, water, gas and sewage.”

“Well slap my ass and fuck me twice on Sunday.” Alex said with a smile looking at Rubén as he said it with a big grin on his face, “A nice hot shower that’ll be great.” Even Spoon agreed with a chuckle.

“Well I’ll leave the fucking and slapping up to Rubén but the showers are hot.” Darren said with a half smile as Rubén blushed, “Thanks Lieutenant.” Rubén said glaring at him meeting his eyes in the mirror, “Oh, I’m in trouble Rubén used my rank…head for the hills.” He said with a hard smile of good nature.

“Have you heard about the election?” Rubén said trying to change the subject still looking at Darren in the mirror doing his best to ignore the ribbing. Darren looked over his shoulder quickly at him, “Nope nothing, excited about being on the council?” Rubén frowned, “I just want it to be over with and whatever the people decide I’m fine with.”

Darren laughed, “Already sounding like a Politian…I’m sure you have nothing to worry about you’ll be on this council. I know I voted for you and Zeke.” Rubén looked at him a little surprised, “um…thanks.” Darren shrugged, “look you’ve done a lot for the folks and us in the military and people remember that, plus you’re a good guy.” The two other men looked at him, “what about this council?” Spoon said curious this was the first that he heard about it.

As they drove Rubén brought both Alex and Spoon up to speed on the deaths of all the people in the silos and on either coast and how they were holding an election to form a new council that would govern and to give people a voice and not feel like they were under a military dictatorship or a religious theocracy. As they continued talking the conversation shifted from the politics of Ankeny to the military power of the new city and how they were going to fight Rita and get the woman and any other captives back. There were so many details to work out and the new equipment and weapons they had control of were defiantly going to help them in their battle and to keep Ankeny safe in the future because it would be clear that there would be other threats not just from Rita but from other groups. It would be a challenge and they all knew. Survival in this new world would not be easy.

Darren came to a stop and everyone got out of the truck as the other vehicles in the convoy slowed and stopped as well. Darren pointed to the Islands in the center of this new sea or great lake or whatever it was, “Well there it is?” Darren pointed and Spoon and Alex looked out over the water to where Ankeny lay there were several smaller Islands as well, but the largest was Ankeny.
May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference.
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Misbehaver
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OOC: Short, I know. But in a rush at the moment.

IC:

Spoon & the gang - Qualifications

Spoon stared out the window at Ankeny. As far as he was concerned, it was the promised land. It couldn't be any worse than where he was coming from. This small tinge at the back of his mind was getting bigger the close he got to the city. Part of him felt he could make a difference. Part of him felt hat he should just sit back and let the experts handle the saving of the world. If there was anything left to save.

"The council interest you, Spoon?" Ruben piped up from behind him. "I seemed to get your attention when I mentioned it. I know they're looking for people with fresh ideas. People who can really make things happen."

"I don't think so, Rube. Not exactly the model-citizen type." Spoon looked back out the window toward the city. Why couldn't his voice have led him here before Fort Dodge?

"Ah, come on, man. You think Ankeny's full of politicians and lawmakers. Most of 'em are regular folks like you and me. You gotta have some qualifications."

Think fast, Spoon told himself. "Well, I attended Juliard. I graduated from Harvard Business scho--"

"Alright," Darren chimed in from the driver's seat. "We're gonna stop you there, Keaton. What's your real story?"

Spoon blew out a heavy breath, and decided to come clean. "I never went to college. I've been a bartender for the last ten years. I've been running drugs, cash, and guns for the mob for the last six, and now that I've lost my job, my home, and my life back in Chicago, I'm kind of looking to broaden my horizons."

The truck fell silent for a few moments. Apparently Spoon didn't seem the gunrunner type.

"So," Darren started. "You know weapons?"

"I do," Spoon said.

"You're good with people," Ruben said.

"That I am."

"And you can mix me a decent drink when we hit town?" Alex offered.

"Whatever you want," Spoon said, chuckling.

"Well, I'm sure we can find something suitable for your talents," Ruben said.

"ATF director?" Spoon joked.

Ruben smiled. "Well, probably not. But something."

"Good," Spoon turned back to the window. "Just keep me useful or I'll probably go insane."
mike was still in his chair being eatenchair
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WeBandOfBuggered
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Alex/Spoon/Johnson/Ruben/Zeke/Sam - Welcome Home, Such As It Is

“Jesus…we’re living on fuckin’ islands?”

“Yup, that a problem?”

“Shit yeah,” Alex said. “I’m a terrible swimmer. And I don’t wanna drown. Almost did when I was twelve and have absolutely no desire to repeat the experience in this lifetime. Or the next one, for that matter.”

“You’re Hindu? I saw you doing that Greek thing with the coins over the eyes though…and you prayed the ‘Our Father’ with us back in Vegas,” Johnson observed.

Alex shrugged, “I like to cover my bases.” Eliciting a few smiles from the others in the car. Alex reached back into his pocket and pulled out the wedding ring, staring at it as though it held the secrets of the universe.

“You holding up okay?” Rueben asked.

“Yeah…I guess, I mean, at this point I feel like I’m running outta reasons to live. My entire family’s dead.”

“You don’t know that, they maybe back home,” Spoon noted.

“I know. My parents died about five years ago; I’m an only child, my aunt and uncle were in Australia when the meteor hit and my cousin Ames died in my arms in Vegas. Domenica’s been kidnapped by some fucking psychopath and Adam who I’d grown to love like a brother, also died in my arms.” He indicated to his bloodstained clothes, he hadn’t changed out of them since Adam had died. He knew how unsanitary this was, but he kept them on anyways as a reminder of his failure…once again, he’d fucked up royally and someone else had paid the ultimate price. How fucking unfair was the world when a decent man with a wife and two kids died while a worthless contractor-slash-shitty novelist got to live? The Gods above truly did have a fucked up sense of humor.

After what seemed like days they arrived in Ankeny proper. Alex exchanged awkward handshakes with strangers, then a young man approached him. The man was a few inches shorter than Alex with black hair and a wiry build. “Alex Castle, I presume?”

“Aye good sir. You Zeke?”

“Yes I am. What say we get you some clean clothes and a place to stay?”

“What about Adam? What’s gonna happen to him?”

“He’ll be taken care of, Alex. Don’t worry. We’ve gotta get you somewhere to live now.”

Alex sighed and looked back at the convoy and in particular a vehicle in the middle where Adam’s body was stowed. “Does Sam know?”

“Yes,” Zeke said solemnly. “He took it pretty hard to say the very least.”
Alex nodded and shifted his weight awkwardly, fingering the scar running across his right cheek. “It was my fault you know…I didn’t get him out of the line of fire in time.”His voice hitched, “show me to my digs so I can talk to Sam…get the ass whooping that’s coming to me.”

Zeke looked at Alex. “Look, it wasn’t your fault, Alex. If Adam died there, it was God’s will for that to happen.”

“Don’t give me that ‘God’s will’ bullshit, Zeke. Was it God’s will that my entire family’s dead? Or that one of the few people I’ve got left to give a shit about gets kidnapped by a fucking psychopath? Or Adam, who was like a brother to me died in my Goddamn arms? If that’s ‘God’s will’ then that son of a bitch has some serious fucking explaining to do when I meet him.”

Zeke seemed put off by Alex’s outburst, but still understood. “Look, why not get to your house, get cleaned up and rest. You can talk to Sam after you get a few hours of sleep, okay?”

Alex sighed and nodded. He was damn tired…any time he’d tried to sleep lately, he’d dreamt of Adam’s death, or, more frequently, his own death. Those dreams terrified him because they were so damn real. He’d wake up feeling like he’d been shot or stabbed or short of breath on account of being hung…it had gotten to the point he was terrified of sleeping for fear of some fucked up Nightmare on Elm Street death. But oddly, he felt reassured here. Zeke and Alex headed for the townhouses and Alex was given one of the still empty ones. He entered the house and walked to the washroom, relishing in the heat of the shower. He climbed out and stumbled into his bedroom, crawling under the covers and falling asleep instantly.

He slept deeply and, for once, dreamless. He awoke a full day later and found his backpack was there, his clothing was in it. He fished it out and walked out the front door, he noticed bemusedly that his address was 1442. He went down the steps and bumped into another person, asking for directions to Sam’s house. He followed them, and was soon standing on Sam’s front stoop. Sam opened the door, his eyes puffy and red. Alex braced himself for a punch that never came. Instead, Sam stepped out the doorframe.

“Well, you gonna come in or are just gonna stand there all day?” Alex stepped into the house and closed the door behind him. “Come on into the kitchen, Alex.”

Alex trotted down the hallway and sat down at the kitchen table. “I’m just gonna say this: I’m sorry, Sam. It’s my fault that happened.”

“No, don’t say that Alex.”

“It was, Sam. I didn’t pull him out of the line of fire in time and those assholes got him. It’s my fucking fa…”

He was cut off by a sharp SLAP. Sam was standing over Alex and had just backhanded him across the left side of his face.

“That fucking hurt!”

“It was suppose to, Alex. What happened wasn’t your fault. You want the truth? Quite frankly, I blame God for this. And I hear you talking like that again, I will punch your lights out, okay?”

Zeke came into the kitchen at that point, “am I interrupting anything?”

“Nope…just me expressing my condolences to Sam,” Alex replied. “What do ya need?”

“Well, I was hoping to talk to you about the council.”

“Ah, yes…this really is getting more and more like The Stand. Council, good vs. evil, rock gods and a fucking psychopath.”

Zeke smiled tightly, “I guess it is. So, if you have a few minutes…”

“Sure, let’s head back to my place.”

The two men walked back to Alex’s and he entered first. “Sorry ‘bout the mess. I just moved in.” Zeke chuckled as Alex led him to the kitchen. “So, what you wanna talk about? Campaign speech?”

“Pretty much, we’re gonna have all the candidates say a few words. Anything you’ve got planned?”

Alex nodded, “I thought of something on the walk over.”

“Let’s hear it.”

Alex cleared his throat. “Hello, I’m Alex Castle. Before all this I was a published novelist and owned my own contracting company. I understand you guys are electing a council, but I ain’t all that big on speeches so I’m just gonna lay it out: really, in these situations, it’s black and white. We got winners, we got losers, there’s no gray area here. Truth be told, I could care less if I win or loose because really, politics can be all about losers. You loose the election, you’re a loser. You do something the general public you don’t like, you’re a loser. I believe Teddy Roosevelt said it best: Tread softly and carry a big stick. It’s true…you’ve gotta make sure you don’t piss anyone off and, if you do, you’d better have a big damn stick to beat ‘em off because otherwise, you’re well and truly fucked. But hey, that’s politics bitch.”

Zeke stared at Alex briefly, slightly perturbed.

“What?”

“It uh, it’s good…but it needs some polishing.”

Alex sighed, “fine, how’s this: Tread softly and carry a big stick. It’s true…you’ve gotta make sure you don’t piss anyone off and, if you do, you’d better have a big damn stick to beat ‘em off because otherwise, you’re boned. But hey, that’s politics bitch. That better?”

“Still needs some polishing.”

“Just no pleasing you, is there?” Alex said with a grin.
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Cale Raizer
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Misty was starting to feel like a character in those old black-and-white noir films. Except, instead of being the mysterious woman in the dress, she was the detective.

Not that she was having much success. Most of the men they had talked to were reluctant to discuss their dreams about this Bathin fellow, even to one of their own.

They did it in secrecy, of course, approaching each soldier in as close an approximation of solitude as they could manage around the crowded camp. Most men denied any knowledge, others just acted surly.

One even tried to beat Edward up, but he and Misty had managed to elude him.

"This is hopeless," Edward said, as their last interviewee skulked off, throwing suspiscious glances over his shoulder, "Were getting nowhere with this. Can't you do something?"

"What do you want me to do?" Misty asked, annoyed, "Drop on my knees and suck them off until they talk?"

"It might help!" Edward snapped, clearly losing his patience.

"Quiet, you," Misty scowled, but she admitted he did have a point. This seemed like a fools errand. No one was going to talk to them, an unimportant soldier and a slave girl in chains.

"C'mon, lets get going," Edward said, stalking off down the hall, "We might as well see if anyone else is going to play dumb."

Misty sighed, following him, her chains rattling on the floor. She wasn't sure she really liked Edward, he was entirely too sarcastic for her liking. And technically, he was one of Rita's men.

Misty was all to aware she was doing this to give Rita peace of mind, something that chaffed her no end. She'd rather let Rita suffer through whatever nervous breakdown that wa shanging over her head, but Domenica seemed to think doing this will help them out.

Misty didn't like it, but she was all for doing what it took to get Rita off their backs.

"Oy, you!" Edward called out to a fellow soldier walking down the hall, "We need to talk to you!"

"Fuck you, man!" the soldier called back, "i already know what you're gonna ask, and I ain't talking!" The man spotted Misty walking behind him, and licked his lips, "On second thought, lemme get a right with that bitch of yours, and I'll see what I can work out."

Edward glanced questioningly at Misty, who scowled. Edward shrugged, "Sorry, man. No can do."

"Then let me repeat myself, I ain't talkin!" With that, the soldier strode down the hall, shoving past Edward, rather more roughly then was strictly nessecary.

"Nice try," Misty said, walking past Edward.

"I don't see you coming up with any bright ideas." Edward growled, hurrying to catch up with Misty.

"I actually do have an idea," Misty said, "I was a bartender before the asteroid, and if there was one thing I learned, its that alchohol talks."

"So, you're saying, if we get some of these guys drunk enough, maybe they'd be able to tell us what we want to know?"

"Exactly," Misty said, "Let's head down to the bar, and see what turns up."

The bar, such as it was, was built on the outskirts of the camp. Perhaps heeding the knowledge that soldiers drank, in copiuos amounts, and that her soldiers would be unhappy if they weren't allowed to drink, Rita had allowed a bar to be constructed.

A slap-shod pile of loose timbers and plywood, the bar was very much unlike any Misty had ever served in.

At any bar she used to work at, there was a sense of comraderie, it would be a place were people came to knock back a few drinks, havea good time, party, or take a few drunken tries on a karake machine.

This place, she sensed, was a place were men came to get drunk enough to do evil things. She shivered, she didn't want to be here, in the proverbial lions den, but she had no choice. If this Bathin was really the head of an underground resistence, then it would be in Misty's- and everyone else's- best interest to find out about him.

The bar was crowded, as it usually was, but it was fairly quiet, not a lot of the ruckus that was normal for the bar. A few men in tattered military garb sat at the bar, playing a drinking game that seemed to involve balancing a knife, and taking a shot when you dropped it.

There were a few others, scattered around, most choosing isolated corners, though there was a group of four huddled around a pitcher of beer.

"where should we start?" Edward asked, keeping his voice low.

Misty looked around the bar, gauging. The group at the bar seemed to have just started drinking, while the group of four at the table were already tipsy. "Over there," Misty said, pointing to the group at the table.

Misty took a second to grab a pitcher of beer from the bartender, and then they approached.

"Evenin', fellas," Edward said, smoothly sliding into a seat, "Mind if I join ya?"

"Course not!" One of the men said, slurring his words slightly, "The more the merrier!"

"Thats what I like to hear!" Edward said, motioning for Misty to pour the beer, which she did with a fixed smile on her face. When she finished, she placed the pitcher on the table, and folded her hands in front of her waist, the image of docile servitude.

"so, whats on the table?" Edward said, taking a swig from his mug.

The men instantly became engrossed in a conversation, ranging from a wide variety of topics, which of the slave girls were their favorites, the loot they'd bring in, who could outdrink who. It was typical of bar banter, Misty had heard it dozens of times.

As the men talked, the pitcher became more and more empty, until finally it ran out. Edward peered into the empty mug, frowning, "Aww, now we can't have that!" He looked over to Misty, "More beer, bitch!"

Misty did her best to smile, stepping forward. She grabbed the pitcher, and jumped when Edward swung his hand, smacking her on her ass, "Good girl, now get us some more!"

Misty walked away, stiff with rage, her already tender buttocks burning in pain. She walked slowly to the bar, and retrieved another pitcher. She put it on the table, gently, refraining from bashing Edward on the head with it.

As the men tore into the pitcher anew, Misty noticed a man, sitting in the corner, staring at her. She was used to being stared at, men did it all the time, and women too, but this man wasn't staring at her like anyone else ever had.

He noticed her looking at him, and he seemed to grimace, but he beckoned her over.

Misty wanted to ignore the man, but she knew that as a slave, she was expected to obey any order. If she didn't, it may raise suspicion. So she walked over to the man, who gestured for her to have a seat.

Misty sat down gingerly, confused. "Can I help you?"

"Probably not." The man said. He was rather ugly, his face crisscrossed by scars, and he wore an eyepatch over his right eye.

"What did you want, then?" Misty asked.

"You're looking for information on Bathin, correct?" The man said, leaning forward, letting Misty get a glimpse of the small wodden cross he wore around his neck.

Misty tried to play dumb, "What makes you say that? And whose Bathin?"

The man grated a laugh, "Girlie, if I wanted to, I could have you thrown in a deep dark hole for the rest of your time here. Now don't play games with me."

He said it in a calm, level tone, but somehow Misty knew he wouldnt hesitate to enact such a threat. "Allright, fine," She said, "How did you know that?"

"I dreamed it," The man said, "and I can tell you about Bathin."

Misty was suspiscous, "Why would you do something like that?"

"do you want info or not?" The man asked, glaring at her with his one good eye.

Misty nodded, and the man cleared his throat, "I don't know much about the actual man calling himself Bathin, but the Bathin I know of, well, he's not a fellow you'd ever want to meet."

"Why not?" Misty asked, curious in spite of herself.

"Because Bathin is a demon."

"A demon?" Misty snorted.

"Yes, a demon. One of the Dukes of Hell."

"Right," Misty said, starting to stand up, "Well, it was nice talking to you, but I have to go now."

"Wait!" The man hissed, grabbing her arm, "Listen, damn you!"

Misty gulped, and sat down. His grip was strong.

Once she was settled in, the man spoke again, "Bathin is a Duke of Hell, a powerful demon. He knows about herbs, and stones, and commands thirty legions of lesser demons."

"What did he look like?" Misty asked.

"He is said to appear as a young man with a serpents tail, if you ever see him at all. He can teleport, and is the guide of Astral Projection."

Misty was half tempted to scoff at the man, but didn't. Too much weird shit had been going on for her to discount the man. If Zeke was right, and God had finally taken an interest in humanity, then why not a demon?

Still, it was pretty far-fetched, but she thought she had better pass the word along. "Thank you," Misty said, "I won't forget this."

The man merely nodded, and let Misty go. She passed by Edward o the way, and signalled to him.

Edward excused himself from the table, and followed her out. "You found something?" Edward asked.

"I think so," Misty said, "But we need to gather everyone before I want to talk about it."
"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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mdnjr70
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Domenica/Willow/Bridgette/Mark – Aftermath


Domenica sat in her living room after her meeting with Rita she knew that Rita needed time to think things over and to be honest she needed the break, with everything that was going on she needed a breath of fresh air and even though this place wasn’t really her home, it was the only place she had. She kept thinking of that name Bathin there was something familiar about it, like she had heard it before, but it wasn’t a common name and that was what bothered her. Will had finished deactivating the cameras in her house, not that she trusted him, but she did watch him do it, so she knew her home was somewhat private now, and even thought Will was, well she didn’t trust him, she didn’t know why, for the most part he had been nothing but nice to her, sure he treated Edward poorly, but Edward was once called ‘Dog’ and worked in the rec tents and she saw how they were treated there, it was a relief that Rita had closed them down. Domenica took a sip of her hot chocolate that Will had made for her and just as she put it down on the coffee table there was a pounding at her front door.

She sighed and got up from the sofa and walked to the door by the time Will appeared from the kitchen he was cleaning some dishes. “I got it Will thanks.” She said with a playful smile towards him and he nodded back at her, she had to admit that he was coming around and treating Edward a little better the last few days so that was something. She had a fleeting thought about why Edward hadn’t told them his real name now that he was talking. She opened the door and was just about hit in the face by Mark who barreled into the room. “Where is she?” He demanded looking around the living room, looking for someone he caught site of Will and rushed him causing him to drop the dish he was drying it crashed on the floor and shattered, “Where the fuck is she?” Mark grabbed Will by the shirt and Will was about to deck him, Will had about 50 pounds on him and about 6 inches of height. “Mark what are you talking about?” Domenica demanded as she ran over and tried to separate them careful to miss the pieces of the broken plate. “Peg…where the fuck is she what did you and Rita do with her?” Domenica looked at him, he was yelling at Will and Will much to Domenica’s surprise had a confused look on his face as well. Neither of them had been expecting this.

“Will get in the kitchen, Mark sit down!” Domenica said pointing to the couch and Mark gave her a look of death.

“What did you do with Peg, just because she isn’t pregn…” Mark started to say but Domenica interrupted him.

“Mark, couch, now! You don’t know what you are talking about.” Domenica ordered and she touched his arm gently finally snapping him out of his panic and rage. He nodded and moved to the couch and Domenica followed him. She looked at Will and smiled and he started cleaning up the broken dish then moved into the kitchen out of site but not out of ear shot in case Domenica needed help. “Peg was with me.” Domenica said looking at Mark with a pleasant smile Mark didn’t know what to say to that revelation. “What?”

Domenica nodded she had no idea her actions with Peg would have created such a ruckus, “I asked Owen to get her and bring her to the office with Rita and me.” Domenica started explaining as she watched him. “Did you know she was a Pediatric Nurse?” Mark looked at her a little surprised, “um.” Domenica smiled, “Seems not too many people did, but that was her doing too, she didn’t anyone to know. Anyway, I wanted her to talk to Rita and give her advice about this whole breeding idea and how stupid it was.” Mark looked at her a moment in complete shock and Domenica continued, “so Peg talked to me and then we both talked to Rita, we’re guessing that most of these ‘baby’ results that they’ve been giving people are bogus. I mean, Mark, 57 woman pregnant in 2 weeks…come on that’s not possible there is no physical way it could happen, hell I bet most of the women in this camp aren’t even having their period yet; stress can throw your body out of whack and I think everyone would agree that we are all under a huge amount of stress these days.”

“But Mary and Willow?” Mark said pulling out a piece of paper in his shaky hand. Domenica took the slip and saw that both Mary and Willow, according to the medical test were pregnant. Domenica could see the look on his face but she wasn’t reading it correctly, “I suppose Mary could be I mean we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to know for sure.” She said thinking a moment, she was really surprised he actually cared that much about the woman being pregnant, but men were strange and musician were even more odd, so who really knew what he was thinking. She looked at Mark who was still silent, “And Willow, I mean come on really, Willow, after like what 4 days.” She stopped and looked at him “oh god…Adam.” She said almost smiling at Mark. Mark looked at her, “look Mark, I don’t know about Mary, but I do know that Adam and Willow.” She paused again and her face blushed as she continued, “well I know that Adam and Willow enjoyed each other, maybe it’s his. Wouldn’t that be amazing! I mean they have two kids already and now a new baby, what a way to start a new life in the new world.” Domenica’s voice got faster as she spoke about the idea, “Well that would make the most sense I mean really, God, we have to really work on getting out of here get them back together, I think a few more days and Rita will be more then willing to let people leave, I could be reaching her, but she really has come a long way and now with this whole Bathin thing. Wont’ Adam be thrilled when they see each other again.”

Mark was silent deep in thought hearing each of Domenica’s words, there were moments were Domenica, Mark was discovering, was a little clueless. She looked at him, “That has got to make you feel so much better, of course we’re assuming the test results are even correct to begin with, Oh Mark, just the idea has to make you feel better, I mean how messed up would it be if you get your friends wife pregnant then having to see him again. That would…well.” She stopped seeing him quietly sitting there.

Domenica cleared her throat, “Anyway, after our meeting, Rita told Owen to bring her back to the house she should have been back home hours ago.” Domenica said trying to change the topic. Mark looked at her, “But she’s not.” Domenica frowned, “But…” There was another knock at the door and Domenica got up and walked over to the door the only other person that it could be was Rita and Rita wouldn’t mind Mark being here, Will was here to make sure nothing happened to her so she didn’t even thought about who it was. She opened the door and Bridgette walked in carrying Willow, “They killed Mary and almost killed Willow, the guards are going nuts or some shit, I mean Mary, and then he held the gun to Willow.” Bridgette said completely out of breath, “I didn’t know where to take her, not home I don’t think that would be safe.” Domenica grabbed an arm of Willow’s and help her in the house, Mark was instantly up and helping Willow over to the couch. “What happen?” Mark said looking at Bridgette, “Willow wanted to find Peg, but the guard he just laughed and said something about how she belonged to him now. I don’t know, it was crazy, not like this place could use anymore crazy.” Mark looked at Domenica and she shook her head.

“Mark I assure you Rita released her and Owen took her bac…” Domenica stopped and looked raising a shocked hand to her mouth, “Oh god, Owen never took her back he must have…oh no.” Bridgette looked at both Mark and Domenica confused. “Owen took her to him.” Will said from the door, he was bringing a first aid kit. Mark looked at him, “who is he?”

Will looked at him as he opened the kit and started to work on Willow’s wounds, “Bathin, and before you try and kick my ass, I don’t know anymore, I just , I just know the name and have heard the whispers.” Mark frowned and looked at Domenica who nodded, “I’m so sorry, Mark, this is all my fault, I mean if I didn’t have Peg come and talk.”

“Then you wouldn’t be trying to help everyone.” Willow said, somehow understanding bits of what was happening around her, with the little that Domenica said she must have pieced some of it together, Bridgette looked at them all trying to get up to speed, “wait what the hell, Peg wasn’t taken.”

Willow’s eyes fluttered and she looked at Mark who smiled, at her, “Hey how you feeling?”

“Idiots, they think women can…” Willow said it was a bit of a struggle and she stopped to take a breath.

“Shh. Don’t talk.” Mark said looking holding her hand and giving her a strong but worried expression. Domenica watched what was happening around her, “Bathin.” She said again thinking, that name was ringing in her ears she knew it she had heard it before, it hit her like a tone of bricks and she looked at the group, “He’s a Demon. Bathin is a demon.” Everyone stopped and looked at her, that was all she knew but the words froze them all for a moment. “What?” Bridgette said looking at him, “I heard that name before and I just remember from when, I was talking to a priest one day at my church I have no idea how we got on the subject but Bathin is the name of one of the demons in hell.” Domenica said looking around the room. “No there has to be another explanation.” Mark said looking at them, “Well Misty was trying to find info on him, so.” Willow looked at Domenica and frowned, Willow and Domenica both knew that she was right, the name Bathin, was that of a demon, it was the only thing that could explain what had been happening around here, if God was moving his army then it would stand to reason the Devil was moving his. The thoughts and the fears tumbled around in Domenica’s mind as Will dress the wounds. She watched Mark and how he looked at Willow and how she looked only at him. Domenica understood why the test results bothered Mark so much now, he wanted Willow to be pregnant, she took a few steps back looking at the scene that was playing out in her living room. This was had to be the work of a demon, poor Adam was all she could think, he didn’t deserve what was coming not in the least.
May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference.
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LadyRahl
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Supreme Goddess Of All Things Bright And Shiny
Zeke/Ruben - Shaken not Stirred



“I’m glad you’re okay,” Zeke said wrapping his arms around Ruben, relief washing through him as he saw him safe and soung back in town. “I’ve been worried.”

“Worried? You?” Ruben asked with a smile.

Zeke leaned up, giving Ruben a quick kiss but not making a display over it. For one reason, John was standing a few feet away and two, it wasn’t exactly the most appropritae. “So what happened? Adam,”

“They were ambushed,” Ruben said. “He was shot in the back, he lost to much blood by the time we got to him.” He took a step back and grabbed the bag that he’d brought with him. It was heavy, full of manuals for the equipment that they’d taken. “I don’t understand it though, Zeke, I mean he was on your list. Shouldn’t he have made it?”

“God’s not the only one out there working,” Zeke replied, his tone heavy. “I don’t know what role Adam had in all this, the role any of us have, but,” he shook his head and walked over to a chair sitting down heavily.

“Zeke, are you okay?” Ruben asked, following him.

“What’s the matter buddy?” John said coming over as Zeke ran his hands over his eyes.

“Nothing,” Zeke said his hands flopping into his lap. “We should go home so you can clean up.”

“Bullshit nothing’s wrong,” John said grabbing Zeke’s arm as he stood up. “You talk to me, or do I have to sit on you like I used to in order to get you to talk?”

Zeke’s shoulder’s slumped as he looked into his brother’s eyes for a moment before sitting back down, Ruben taking the chair to his right, John to the left. Both of them pulled their chairs around so that they were at his knees so that they could look at him. They both looked worried, confused, and even afraid. He shook his head and looked up at the sky. “I can’t… I can’t see.”

“You can’t see?” John asked with a frown. “So what you’re like blind? You’ve been working your way around town on memory?”

“I don’t think he means that kind of blind,” Ruben replied, knowing as he said it that John had meant it more as a joke than anything. “What do you mean, Zeke? Blind how?”

“I can’t see the path,” Zeke said, his tone uncertain for the first time since the event. “Something is blocking my sight.” His hands rested on his knees, fingers moving against the fabric as he stared at them, unable to look either man in the eye. “Everyone wants answers, and I don’t have any. I know I should, I know it.” He said insistantly feeling it deep within his gut. “Something’s stopping it though.”

“Like what?” Ruben asked.

“I don’t know,” Zeke replied and let out a small laugh. “Maybe I should go on a vission quest.”

Ruben couldn’t help but laugh. “Alex would love that, he kept calling you Mother Abagail on the way down here. Are you sure you’re not just tired? You haven’t been sleeping well.” The truth was that Zeke hadn’t been. He’d sleep for a few hours at night and then get up, disappearing for the rest of the night until Ruben found him the next morning cooking breakfast.

Zeke sighed. “I don’t know, I don’t know anything any more. Everyone wants something and I don’t know what to tell them,” his looked up, meeting Ruben’s eyes almost looking afraid. “I’ve felt so… sure… until this point and now,”

“Now you’re feeling like we’ve been feeling all along,” Ruben said touching Zeke’s hand. “You know what you would tell me? If the situation was reversed?”

“Have faith?” Zeke asked with a small laugh.

“Exactly,” Ruben replied. “Everything that is happening, is for a reason wether or not we like it. There’s a war going on, and there will be casualties, some expected and some not. We have to have faith that in the end, God’s will shall prevail.”

“Yeah,” John said with a smile. “It sounds just as dumb as when you say it.” Zeke looked at his brother for a moment, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly as he fought the urge to laugh. Failing, he doubled over, a bolt of laughter ripping out from his stomach. “Go home, get laid, have a day.” He slapped Zeke on the shoulder. “You need it.”

Ruben put his arm under Zeke’s pulling him up to his feet and Zeke nodded. “Okay, maybe… maybe I’ll know what to do after I relax.”

“Maybe,” John said “and maybe not, but even if you don’t, we won’t know that.”

“I’m not going to lie John,” Zeke said looking at his brother sternly.

“I’m not asking you to.” John replied. “Neither is Ruben. Zeke, you know the answers, you know the right things to say. You know them because you’re a good person. That’s not God talking, that’s you. The marking shit on maps, well I won’t say that’s not God, but I’ve known you all your life little buddy, you’ve always been a very wise, very odd duck.”

“Come on,” Ruben said. “Let’s get out of here. Maybe you and some of your men would like to come over for dinner tonight, John? We can go over what we found, see if it’ll be of any use.”





OOC: Total crap... embarrassing to post but... I couldn't focus and I only had so long.

(OOC by mdnjr70: Shut-up it was brilliant. I loved it. Ok now you can kill me.)
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Rubén et al – Doh!

“Your brother is right you need a break.” Rubén said as they walked back to the townhouse, it was taking them longer because people were stopping them and talking to them or asking questions or trying to get approval for something new. “Oh I thought you were going to agree with the getting laid part.” Zeke said with a sassy smile looking at Rubén, no one else heard the comment, thank goodness, but it still made Rubén blush. “Um…well.” Rubén stammered not sure what to say to that. Zeke smiled as they turned the corner, “I know I need the break but there is so much and people think…” Rubén stopped him and looked at him, “did you ever think that maybe you did everything that God wanted you to do. Maybe the rest is for us to figure out on our own?”

Zeke didn’t say anything to Rubén question it was possible but it didn’t feel right, there was something blocking him and he knew it something had changed. Rubén opened the door for Zeke, he smiled at him once Rubén got through the door as he closed and locked it, “Why do you lock the door?” Zeke asked looking at Rubén who stopped and looked back at the door, “I’m not sure habit I guess. I don’t even think about it.” Zeke smiled, “like you know you’re suppose to do it and you would feel funny if someone tried to hold you back from doing it and then it would only make you want to do it that much more?” Rubén frowned crossing his arms in front of his chest, “Zeke.”

Zeke held up his hands, “I’m just saying is all.”

Rubén understood he really did, he wasn’t trying to keep Zeke from doing what he needed to do, but at the same time Zeke couldn’t help anyone if he ran himself into exhaustion, “Zeke I get it, I really do and the whole ‘Stand’ idea hasn’t left my mind sense I met Alex. The idea that we are at war, between the Devil and God; Bad and Good, I understand, but I don’t want to see you wonder off one night because you’ve lost contact with God or lost your faith and then show up and die at the end of this. I need you to be here, I’m selfish I know, but I can’t do this without you here with me. You make it all make sense to me. When we were out there at Fort Dodge I felt lost without you. I questioned everything.” Zeke reached over and touched Rubén face with the back of his hand, “Thank you, and I don’t intend to.”

“Good.” Rubén said looking at him, “I know you’re worried about leaving your path again I know I forced you off the path before and that is something I have to live with and if what I did screwed everything else up, there is nothing I can do to ever fix it and I’m sorry. I truly am. But listen to me, you just need to rest, take a break let the world move forward a few hours without you in it, things will happen soon enough and you will need to be at 100%. Maybe after you have a break you’ll see things more clearly.” Rubén grinned at him hoping he was making sense and not just rambling.

“Come on.” Zeke said grabbing Rubén’s hand leading him upstairs, “What?”

Zeke looked at him and grinned devilishly, “you need a shower and I need to relax, might as well figure out a way to work them both in at once.” Zeke lead the way up the stairs Rubén following him to their bedroom and the hot shower waiting for them.

***

Rubén looked over to Zeke who was lying in the bed next to him sleeping the soft light bouncing off his naked body, he looked very peaceful completely angelic, at least in Rubén’s eyes, not sense Rubén gave him the massage had he seen Zeke so peaceful so relaxed. Rubén leaned in kissing Zeke on the forehead and then gingerly moved to climb out of the bed slipping on his underwear and then his pants and shit. He moved silently trying hard to not wake up Zeke his close didn’t feel quite right, but he looked at the pants in the dim light and saw they were his and didn’t give it another thought. He slipped out of the room and headed down to the kitchen as quietly as he could. Rubén wasn’t a great cook by any means but he could manage a few things. As Rubén moved around the kitchen pulling veggie dogs and veggie burgers he knew he could grill them in the backyard and he could make something with some of the few remaining fresh vegetables they had, plus there was a really cool vegan chocolate cake Rubén knew how to make thanks to Heidi.

Rubén continued to work in the kitchen finding the more he moved the more things didn’t feel right, not with his state of mind but with is underwear or pants, they seemed much tighter and they weren’t fitting him right and it was starting to annoy the hell out of him almost to the point where it was painful. It finally got to the point where he couldn’t take it any longer and was about to go up stairs and see what the heck was the matter but there was a tapping at the front door. He took a deep breath and moved to the door walking a little awkward now. He opened the door before a second tapping began, “Hey Rubén.” Alex said as he walked in the house, “what’s up Alex?” Rubén asked he hadn’t seen the man this afternoon.

“I don’t suppose you’ve seen Sam? I can’t find him…oh something smells good.” Alex said walking into the kitchen Rubén thought of his own personal wardrobe malfunction he would have to deal with it later he thought he knew he would live it would just be uncomfortable. “Wow you’re good looking and you cook…Zeke is lucky.” Alex said as Rubén entered the kitchen seeing Alex start to inspect what Rubén was doing. “Well I wouldn’t call barbequeing cooking but I do what I can.” Alex smiled and looked around the kitchen, “Don’t suppose you need any help?” Rubén shrugged, “Can you cook?” Alex looked at him for a moment, “um.”

There was another tap at the door to the townhouse and Rubén looked at Alex, “hold that thought.” Alex shook his head and Rubén walked over to the front door and opened it, “Rube…” Spoon said walking in and continuing, “Listen I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done to help, I was thinking about what I could do around here and sense I know a lot about weapons and crime and shit like that, I was thinking maybe I could switch that around, maybe I could help with crime prevention or investigation or something, you know something cool like that. Or maybe I could become the resident crime-boss.” Alex peaked out seeing Spoon, “Hey man, we’re going to do the grill thing.” Spoon looked at Alex, “nice.” Spoon pat Rubén on the shoulder and looked at Alex.

Rubén looked around he felt like he was quickly loosing control, he had Zeke upstairs naked sleeping he was clearly going to cut the blood flow off to his balls and dick if he kept wearing this demon underwear from hell and now the house was filling up with people. “Hey what can I help do?” Spoon said leaving Rubén in the hall to answer the door again. This time it was Cat, Sam, Lex and Callie, Rubén looked at the two men and the two kids, wondering where the dogs where, no they were being quiet and that was a blessed fact that Rubén held onto, “I didn’t want to be alone and Cat thought it might be good to have some company, hope that is ok?” Sam said crossing his arm’s in front of him. “Unca Ubeen” Callie said jumping into Rubén arms with a big smile and kiss on his check she proceeded to swing her legs and kick Rubén in the crotch laughing happily unaware of what she just did, “ugh.” Rubén managed to say as Cat grabbed her quick, “Sorry man. You alright?” Rubén managed a nod and looked at Sam taking in a deep breath, “have you?” He said shaking off the pain and discomfort with two words and Sam’s look he knew that Sam hadn’t told the kids about their father yet. Lex ran back into the hall, “We’re having hot dawgs and hamburgers Grandpa.” Lex with a big smile happy to be around everyone again. Spoon peeked out, “Rub, I think we’re going to need more dogs and burgers, where you keep them?”

Cat smiled, “I can get them.” Cat said and looking at Rubén with a grin and headed to the basement handing Callie to Sam who took her and moved into the Living room, he was still hurting from the death of his son, but he looked a little better today and Rubén thought that the kids would help with that. Rubén looked in the mirror and wondered exactly when did he loose this much control? There was yet another knock at the door this time Amada, John and Darren walked in, “sounds like a party.” Amada said walking over and giving Rubén a kiss on the check, “You ok? Where’s Zeke?” She said looking around, “I’m fine and he was sleeping upstairs about an hour ago.” John looked at him, “sleeping, so that’s what the gays call it these days.” Amanda giggled and headed into the kitchen to help with whatever was now going on it there, there seemed to be more noise now then the simple meal Rubén was planning called for. “I figured Darren and I gave you two enough time to rest.” John said looking at Rubén who shifted uncomfortable something not missed by John or Darren, “What’s the matter my bro leave you hard up there Rubén.” John said good naturedly and patted him on the back as he looked at the kitchen. “Tell me there is some beer somewhere in the house. Rubén please tell me you at least have beer?” John said as he walked off to the kitchen to check, Rubén didn’t know what to say to the request for beer and looked to Darren who was still standing there looking at him, “you look like you got all cleaned up Darren and a little rest yourself?” Rubén said looking at Darren who looked at little shell shocked to be in the house with all this activity.

“Yep, a good nights sleep will do that. I didn’t think everyone would be here?” Darren said looking around the now full townhouse, “You know neither did I.” Zeke said coming down the stairs looking at Darren with a kind welcoming smile. “Sorry it just.” Rubén said looking around at the mass of humanity now here, “It’s alright, I rested enough, thank you for the break.” Zeke said looking at Darren then Rubén, “Can I talk to you a sec.” Zeke said as Darren walked off to the living room leaving them alone for a moment only hearing something crash to the floor in the kitchen, “Nothing broke.” A voice called out and Zeke shook his head and smiled at Rubén who frowned.

Zeke grinned looking back at Rubén, “You seem a little uncomfortable…are you ok?” Zeke had a knowing look on his face, as he looked at Rubén who leaned in, “Callie kicked me in the crotch and there is something wrong with my undershorts. Can you handle things down here I need to go change and make sure I’m still a male.” Zeke chuckled, “I think I can managed, but I think I know the problem with your shorts…they would be mine and you’re a little bigger around the waist them I am, I’m surprised you can still stand and walk, how did you fit?”

Rubén turned beat red, “Doh. It was dark and I wanted to get dinner going, I didn’t…I mean.” Zeke chucked, and kissed his check, “Go take care of yourself, I can handle things hear until you return.” Rubén nodded and headed upstairs careful how he moved he felt like a total and complete dumbass.
May it be said, when the sun sets on your life, you made a difference.
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Willow/Mark/Dominica/Bridgette - Weighing options


“Okay,” Willow said wincing as Will finished dressing the wound on her head. “So what’re you saying? We’re in some epic battle between good and evil? God and the Devil? That we’re in some messed up version of The Stand?” She couldn’t help but laugh. “I don’t even believe on God and the Devil. I’m Pagan, remember?”

“Well that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t believe in you,” Dominica said as Will snapped the first aid kit closed and returned it to its place under the kitchen sink.

“You okay?” Mark said, checking Willow’s eyes. “You have a concussion or anything?”

“I don’t think so,” she replied. “I’ve got a headache, and I feel like my skull is going to explode but…” she shrugged.

“Well you’re not sleeping tonight,” Mark said taking her hand. “Just in case.”

Willow patted his cheek affectionately and gave him a soft smile. “You’ve always looked out for me.”

“Well it’s what Adam would want,” he said. He fell silently, thinking about Adam, thinking about how she was married, how he was married, how he didn’t even know what happened to Skye or Jack. For all he knew they could still be alive, but even if they were, they’d understand… wouldn’t they? Do what you need to survive, right?

“He said something,” Bridgette said, looking at Willow. “When he had the gun to your head?”

Willow nodded. “Something like, I’d wish he killed me or something.” She ran her hand up her arm briskly as though cold. “I don’t remember exactly.”

“Well whoever this Bathain,”

“Bathin,” Dominica said correcting Bridgette.

“Whoever this Bathin dude is, he’s bad news.” Bridgette said. “I think that pretty much goes without saying.”

“But what about Rita?” Mark asked. “I thought she was our enemy, right?”

“Yeah,” Willow said, smoothing her dirt stained dress over her knees. “I mean all these camps? The kidnappings?”

“I don’t know,” Dominica said. “I mean, she’s not that bad really.”

“Not that bad?” Willow said with a snort. “What the hell do you know? You’ve been sitting up here in fucking la-la land while we’ve been forced to spread our legs and be humped like we’re bitches in heat!”

“Willow,” Dominica said “she’s got good in her.”

“Good in her?” Willow said scoffing, standing up. “Good in her? Are you serious? Did she fucking DRUG you?!? She took us! At gunpoint! She tore me away from my husband! My children! She fucking shot Roza in the head!”

“That wasn’t,”

“I don’t give a good god damn WHO pulled the trigger!” Willow yelled, swaying slightly on her feet, unsteady thanks to the blow to her head. Mark reached up and took her arm, steadying her and she pulled away violently. “She was running the fucking show! And did she say so much as boo when he pulled the trigger? No! She didn’t say anything. She just tossed us all in the back of a van and left everyone I loved to die. Good in her? You’re kidding yourself.”

“Willow, we’ve all been through a lot,” Mark said. “Maybe we should trust Dominica. She did get us the garden.” He stood up, guiding her back down into her seat. “She’s only tried to help us. You can’t expect her to magically fix everything. She’s already made things better for us. She closed the rec camps.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her against him and kissing the un-bandaged portion of her head.

“I just, I don’t buy into all this God and Devil crap,” Willow said. “That’s not how I was raised.”

“God has many different forms,” Dominica said.

“The Mother Earth,”

“Even Mother Earth,” Dominica said. “God,”

“I can’t handle this,” Willow said standing up and walking out to the balcony. She slid the door open and stepped outside, a gentle wind kissing her skin and she walked out to the edge, her hand running over her stomach. Honestly she wasn’t even sure if she was pregnant. She’d had a dream she was, and the last time she’d had that dream she’d been pregnant with Callie, but she hadn’t had a dream with Lex. It was possible that she wasn’t, but there was no knowing not at this point. Tests could come back positive for a variety of reasons, not always because of a bun in the oven. Considering all the focus on getting the women pregnant, it would stand to reason that it would be on her mind. It wasn’t like she had morning sickness or anything.

And this Bathin fellow?

“Are you okay?” Mark asked, coming out after her. “Willow? You’re not thinking of, you know… jumping?”

Willow laughed and turned, sinking down to the floor and pressing her back to the glass wall that marked the edge. “Of course not.”

“What’re you thinking about?” He asked, sitting down in front of her so that their knees touched.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“Sure you do.” He replied, putting his hands on her knees. “Willow,”

“I just can’t help but wonder, I mean…” she looked over Mark’s shoulder towards the door making sure no one was standing in it, not sure anymore if she could trust Dominica. Standing up for Rita? Was she being serious? After everything that woman had done to them? “What if this Bathin isn’t bad? I mean, okay, so it’s the name of some biblical demon or whatever,”

“Willow,”

“Just hear me out Mark,” she said. “Someone could have just… picked the name out of a book and started some, resistance movement against Rita. I mean, Rita thinks she’s doing God’s work… right? So wouldn’t it stand to reason that maybe her adversary would pick the name from the opposite scheme of things?”

“I… I don’t know know,” Mark said. “That seems kind of… farfetched.”

“Any more farfetched than Dominica hearing the word of her god?” Willow asked, raising a quizzical eyebrow. “All I’m saying, is that we know Rita… we don’t know this Bathin guy. I’m just saying that we should weigh our options.”
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Spoon, Zeke, Ruben - Please Allow Me to Introduce Myself

Spoon left Alex to finishweeping up the broken glassoff the floor. He walked out of the kitchen, beer in one hand, beer in the other. This was going to be his first chance to relax since prison. That was a sad thought. He let himself fall into the sofa, and placed one of the bottles on the table in front of him. He took a large swig, wishing to Christ he'd found something harder in the house. He had a small urge to just let himself get hammered, and hope that it would erase every bad memory from his life. To just let his head fill qith liquor, and let the horrible things drain out with the booze in the morning. Sadly, this was not to be.

He hadn't swallowed his second sip when the man he'd heard Ruben call Zeke walked into the room. According to Ruben, this was Zeke's place, and everything going on in Ankeny was thanks to him. He felt obliged to introduce himself. He stood from the couch, and placed the beer down, wiping his lips. "Hi," he said, extending his hand. "You must be Zeke."

The man shook his hand and said "Yes, I am. It's nice to meet you..."

"Oh, Spoon."

"Spoon. Right." Zeke nodded and smiled, then looked back toward the stairs. "So, Ruben tells me you're a criminal."

Spoon's eyes widened at the bluntness of the remark. "Uh, Sounds like Ruben's got a bit of a mouth on him." He noticed a sly grin form across Zeke's face at the comment which made him wonder for a moment.

"Don't worry," Zeke said placing a hand on Spoon's shoulder.

Um, personal space, Spoon thought to himself.

"There is no judgement here. We are all God's children."

"If you say, so" Spoon said. He'd had quite enough of God lately. "So, I just wanted to thank you for bringing me here."

"Well, I didn't bring you here, Spoon."

"Oh. Okay."

"Spoon," Zeke said, pushing a hand into his pocket. "Would you be open to the idea if I said that you were expected here?"

Spoon thought to himself that he already knew where this was going. "I've been hearing a lot of that kind of thing lately. Why?"

Zeke produced a scrap of papaer from his pocket. He turned it to Spoon and unfolded it:

PHIL W.

"Your name is Phil, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Spoon said softly. "But how did you--"

"I woke up three nights ago, and wrote this down. You see, I knew you were coming. He knew."

"He?"

"God."

Again, Spoon thought. "Well, God's just batting a thousand today, isn't he?"

Zeke smirked. "I understand being skeptical. It's hard for some people until they experience it themselves. Though, if you're here, something tells me you already have." Zeke's eyes studied Spoon like a museum curator studying a newly arrived artifact for authenticity. "Tell me, Spoon, have you ever had a voice?"

"Voice?" Spoon said.

"Yes," Zeke continued. "Not a crazy one, or a threatening one. But a guiding one. A voice that seemed to be leading you somewhere that you felt you had to be more so than you've felt anything in your life. That kind of voice. Have you?"

"Honestly?" Spoon had a way with people all his life. At this moment he had no idea how to handle the man in front of him. "Yes."

Zeke seemed almost enthusiastic to be getting somewhere with the new arrival. "Where did it take you?"

"It brought me to Fort Dodge."

"Ah, you see. And there you met Ruben, and Alex, and Darren, and they brought you back here. So it's--"

"They also brought back my sister's body," Spoon snapped back.

Zeke's smile lessened, and he gave a half-shrug as if sympathy was a new emotion for him. "He always has a plan for each of us, even if we don't like it."

"So it seems," Spoon said through clenched teeth. A couple hundred miles across ruined America in a stolen truck, then on foot, battles with soldiers and crazy murderers, and now, Zeke, the man with all the answers couldn't tell Spoon a single thing he didn't already know. But was that really his fault? Could he reall be blamed for being normal? Spoon let this thought calm him down. He lowered his defences, and sighed. "I'm sorry for going off, man. I really am grateful to be here. I just...I need time to get my head on right. I kind of feel like I'm just wandering in the dark now."

"I understand. Actually, Ruben mentioned that too. You need a job. I'm sure we can find something suitable for a man with your...talents. You can just go on down the street and if you see something that interests you, sign on up. You'll need a place to stay as well. You can bunk up with Alex, since you two are already acquainted."

This guy's ability to remain chipper is almost nauseating. "Great. Thanks," Spoon said quietly.

Zeke's eyes drifted down to the table. "Um, after your beers of course. Help yourself, by the way."

Spoon smiled. "Thanks."

"Oh, and you're more than welcome to join us for dinner tonight. Can you cook?"

"Uh, you better keep me out of the kitchen unless you need a good bartender."

"We'll see," Zeke said playfully. Spoon had met a lot of intimidating men in his life. This was not one of them. I know we'll find something for you to do. Afterall you're--"

"Expected, I know," Spoon said, a painful question nagging the back of his mind.

"Right," Zeke said.

Spoon could hear Ruben coming down the stairs, and Zeke was turning to the kitchen now. He decided to get it over with quickly. "Zeke, can I ask something?"

"If I can answer, I surely will."

"My sister, Marie....she was my world. She was all I had. I just--I need to know. Were you expecting her too?"

Zeke's eyes saddened, and he pushed his hand into his pocket, grasping the paper as if by instinct. "I'm sorry. My list told me you'd be arriving alone.

Spoon nodded solemnly, no better off for having the answer. "Right," he muttered. "Okay."

Zeke nodded and walked into the kitchen, as Ruben walked back into the living room. He grabbed one of the bottles off the table and tilted it in a cheer toward Spoon. "Hey, thanks man." He took a swig and sat down in the chair opposit the couch. "You and Zeke get along okay?"

Spoon put on a happy front, and let himself crash back into the couch, bottle in hand. "Jesus. I think I'm just gonna hang out with you from now on. That guy's not human."

Ruben laughed, and took another drink. "Yeah. He has that effect on some people." He looked off toward the kitchen where Zeke had just disappeared to. "So, you gonna stick around?"

"You honestly think I'm gonna leave knowing that there's women east of here in need of rescuing. Don't have much faith in my chivalrous heart, do you?" Spoon leaned in from the sofa to talk quietly with Ruben. "Look though, if I'm gonna be here for a while, I'm gonna need a couple things. A gun to start with. I had a rifle with me on the road, but I lost it after the ammo ran out."

Ruben tilted his head questioningly. "You sure we can trust you with one?"

Spoon scoffed at the question. "Come on. I'm not gonna hurt anyone with it. According to my police report I prefer beating people with crystal ashtrays.

Ruben stayed silent, and let a confused look spread across his face.

"I didn't tell you that part, did I?"Spoon said.

"No. You didn't," Ruben answered

"Okay, um, long story..."


mike was still in his chair being eatenchair
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Bridgette wasn't quite sure what to make of all that was hapening right now. She kind of lost track of things around the time Willow started yelling at Dom.

She thought Willow understood the situation better then Dom, though she did follow Dom in the thought that maybe there was some good in Rita. But it was kinda hard to see good in someone who kidnapped you, murdered your freinds, and organized the mass rape of hundreds of women.

"Do you feel the same way?" Domenica asked, "Do you beleive there is no hope for Rita?"

Bridgette sighed, "I find it difficult to beleive, yes." She shook her head, "You got kidnapped, just like the rest of us, and you've seen the rec tents with Misty, how can you be so sure that there's good left in this woman?"

"I beleive that Rita is merely scared," Domenica said, "She is doing what she feels is right, in order to help the human race survive."

"By forcing us to breed, like animals?" Bridgette asked, "I'm one of the lucky ones who actually likes my guy. But that's not the case with everyone here."

"I understand how you feel," Domenica said, "But do not lose hope in her just yet."

"I'll try not to," Bridgette said, "but I think thats gonna be kinda hard."

Domenica nodded, then frowned, staring at Bridgette, "Are you injured?"

"What?" Bridgette stared down, and saw the blood spattered on her dress, "Oh, no, thats not my blood." It must have been from Mary. Bridgette still remembered the look on her face, before they pulled the trigger, ending her life in a spray of blood and bone.

"I have a clean dress for you, hold on." Dom said, disappearing into a small side closet, emerging with a new dress.

Bridgette unabashedly pulled off her own dress, and pulled on the new one, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Dom said, smiling, "So, how is it, with Danny?"

Bridgette smiled, "like I said, I got it allright. He's a nice guy, real sweet. And the other two women arn't bad either," Bridgette stopped, gasping, "Oh my God!"

"What is it? Whats wrong?" Dom asked, suddenly concerned.

"I havn't checked on Lilly or Sasha ina long time! And Sasha had a test coming up!"

"I'm sure she's fine," Dom said, "But I'll talk to Rita later, make sure Sasha is treated allright."

"Thanks, "Bridgette said, "I appreciate that." She took a deep breath, "So, what now?"

"I think we need to find out more about this Bathin fellow," Willow said, walking back in with Mark, "If he's really trying to fight back, then maybe we can help him."

"I doubt it would be easy to find him," Dom said, "I feel the only reason he's survived this long is because he's very careful."

"We'll just have to subtly put the word out," Bridgette said, "Feel around, put a line out."

"Are we sure we wanna be allying ourselves with a demon?" Mark asked, "I'm not so sure thats the way we wanna go on that."

"He's not a demon," Willow said, "He probably just picked up the name, thought it sounded cool, and decided to run with it."

"Demon or not, we need to meet him," Bridgette said, "And that means we have to find him."

"WE can have Misty and Edward help on that, if they ever come back..." Dom said, sounding worried. But right at that moment, the door to Dom's room crashed open, and Misty came running in, dragging Edward behind her.

"Guys! You won't beleive what I found out!" Misty said, excitedly, "We went to the bar, and I talked to this guy, and he told me that Bathin is..."

"A demon." Everyone else in the room said at the same time.

"Yea, how did you guys know?" Misty said, looking a little crestfallen that her news wasn't so useful.

"Dom told us," Mark said, "He's some kinda demon lord, though whether or not our Bathin is an actual demon remains to be seen."

"I dunno, you guys," Misty said, "I'm skeptical, but you gotta admit, it would fit. The asteroid, and a big battle between good and evil?"

"But if Bathin is a demon, and a bad one, which I assume he is," Edward said, "Do we really wanna take his side?"

"This might be just me, but I don't see Rita as a saint, either," Willow said, a bit dryly.

"Whatever the case may be, it would probably be useful to see this Bathin for ourselves," Domenica said, "I can try to talk to Rita, convinve her to start asking some of the men what they might know, from their dreams."

"Me and Misty can ask around, too." Bridgette said, "Mark can testify that we can get answers."

Mark blushed, "They could, at that."

Willow nodded, "And don't forget about the message system in the garden, we can still use that."

"I've had Danny help me stockpile some weapons, in that old tool shed," Bridgette said, "It isn't much, some screwdrivers and hammers, shit like that, but it's better then nothing."

"Just a slong as we wait till we're sure the time is right for an attack," Willow said.

"Allright then," Misty said, "If we're gonna do this, we might as well get started now, c'mon Bridgette." Misty said, turning on her heel, and walking out of the room.

She's probably still upset that her detective work didn't tell us anything new, Bridgette thought, griniing to herself. She excused herself, and followed after her.

"Were should we look first?" Misty asked.

Bridgette looked at her watch, "Fuck."

"What is it? Whats wrong?" Misty asked.

"No, it's just, its my...time." Bridgette said, "With Danny."

"Oh." Misty said, "I see."

"I'm sorry," Bridgette said, "I have to go."

"I understand." Misty said, fixing a smile on her face.

Bridgette knew she didn't have time, but she wanted to resolve this, "I don't want to, baby, you know that, but I have to."

"Circumstances, I understand, "Misty said, "I do."

She didn't, and Bridgette knew it, "Maybe I could bring you with me? Danny wouldn'nt mind a threesome, I'm sure."

Misty cracked a smile, "No, I'm sure he wouldn't."

Bridgette smiled, "Or, we can have our own fun. You and me, on my bed, just the two of us..."

Misty laughed, "Allright, you horny thing, get going before you get in trouble!"

Bridgette laughed too, kisisng Misty on the cheek, "I'll meet up with you later!" And she took off.

"Don'tt ake too long!" Misty called after her, and Bridgette laughed, despite the sudden rage she was feeling.

The rage wasn't directed at Misty, but rather, at Rita. She loved Misty, more then anyone else, and Rita had forced them into this. Bridgette swore, if Rita was responsible for seperating her from Misty, there would be no place she could hide.


OOC: two and a half pages, not bad for pure and utter crap :P
"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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bebeluv1
Nemesis
Tom--Dance with the Devil

A fluffy cream and grey cat with striking blue eyes stopped to lay back her ears and hiss at him. Tom bent over to try to touch the cat, and she spat at him and ran, tail poofed out in that defensive way cats have. Fucking stupid cat, Tom thought. Didn’t she know that he was only trying to help her? Pick her up and love her? Well, too bad for the Fluff Bitch, there was surely no hope for a cozy home at Zeke’s now.

Tom almost felt an urge to chase the cat, to what end he didn’t know. There were a lot of foreign feelings in him now, ones which were both thrilling and terrifying. Thrilling because he felt so damn GOOD, and then terrifying because those feelings didn’t feel like they were entirely his.

Tom stretched his back out, again marveling at how good it felt. Hardly any pain at all. It was a miracle, and Tom began to believe for maybe the first time that Zeke actually knew what he was talking about. Maybe God did have a plan for everyone, and in His plan for Tom, He healed his back. For some reason, thinking this forced a harsh laugh from his throat. He believed in God, all right, but Tom didn’t believe that God healed him. In fact, he knew it. For that little miracle, there was someone else to thank. Bathin. That was the word that kept tip-toeing around in his mind, feeling like an old friend creeping into his house to surprise him with a visit.

The streets were in really good shape here in downtown Ankeny, and it was easy to get around. One could almost feel as though the asteroid thing had never happened. Except for the fact that the streets were devoid of life and bustle that was. Tom didn’t mind, in fact, he enjoyed being alone. It felt good to be away from the goody-goody Zeke and his pathetic followers. Tom laughed again, a harsh barking sound that pierced the air around him.

Tom’s laugh drew the attention of a small band of thugs who leaked out of the shadows of a nearby building like ink from a bottle. The leader of this little pack of twenty-something miscreants appeared to be a fat-bastard of a man with giant pit stains under his arms and a chronic wheeze. This 6’ 7”-ish goliath wore tiny little wire-rim glasses that looked like they’d pop off his melon-fucking-head any second. He looked like a dangerous retard, complete with a stupid smile and clouded eyes. To Tom, this man looked like a slab of dead pig with a crude smile slashed into its flesh.

“Well, look what we got here, fellas!” Wheezy exclaimed. “It’s been awhile since anyone has come around here,” he paused to spit a hunk of yellow mucus onto the pavement. “Uninvited, that is,” he added.

Tom sighed. There sure were a lot of rednecks in this town. He appraised his would-be attackers with mild disdain. Wheezy the retarded giant; Itchy, the skinny muscled guy who couldn’t keep his hand off his own balls; Johnny Rotten, the punk-looking redhead with bad teeth and dead eyes; and last but not least, Biff, the high school jock-type who followed whatever crowd was most popular at the moment.

“I suppose you’ve got an explanation as to why you’ve wandered onto our turf,” Wheezy wheezed, his lungs obviously working overtime to keep up with his giant body. Biff tittered at this comment like he’d never heard anything funnier. Bolstered by his gang’s obvious devotion, Wheezy continued. “So? Are you going to pay the piper or do we have to beat it out of you?” Wheezy smiled then, exposing teeth as big and white as Chiclets.

Tom regarded the gang flatly, unintimidated. “You try to beat me, we’ll see what happens,” Tom said, looking Wheezy dead in the face.

Now Wheezy was put in an awkward position. He either backed down and looked like a pussy, or he had to follow through with his threat. Which he didn’t mind doing, but the way this dude was acting made him uncharacteristically nervous.

“Go on, Bull, take him down!” Johnny Rotten sneered, while Itchy nodded and scratched his balls some more. That guy must have a wicked bad STD. Or pubic lice.

“Your name is Bull,” Tom said matter-of-factly. “Suits you. Only, maybe Ox would have been more fitting, seeing as how they are the dumber of the two animals.”

Bull actually laughed at this, sounding quite like a yowling cat. “Man, either you are a complete idiot or you don’t know who you’re dealing with!”

Tom crossed his arms, still staring Bull in the face. “I know who I’m looking at. Tell me, Greg, did you make a concious choice to turn out like your abusive, pedophile father or did it just happen as a matter of course?”

Bull’s face turned red, and the sweat stain under his armpits grew darker and wider. “Who are you? You’ll pay for that!”

Biff now looked warily at Tom. “How did he know your name, Bull? How did he know your name?”

Johnny Rotten answered for Bull. “Probably just heard of him, that’s all. We’re well known in this town now. We OWN this fucking town!” he whooped triumphantly, perhaps to stave off the nervousness that had taken hold of him.

“Hit him, Bull, hit him!” Itchy yelled, digging ever further into his crotch.

Taking direction from his peers, Bull pulled his face back into a snarl and swung his meaty fist directly at Tom’s face. Unflinching, Tom caught Bull’s hamhock of a hand and squeezed. A look of shock crossed over Bull’s face and he tried to pull his fist back in a panic. Tom squeezed harder. A dry snap drove Bull to his knees.

“Oh, Jesus, please!” he wheezed. “Let me go!”

“Jesus can’t help you, I’m afraid,” Tom commented, almost kindly.

“Help me, you assholes!” Wheezy squealed, sounding quite like the pig Tom thought he looked like. “Christ on a rubber crutch, fuckwads, don’t just stand there! DO SOMETHING!”

The three other men started to move forward, then stopped when Tom flashed them a look of warning. He let go of Wheezy’s hand, which now looked like a linen bag thrown over a heap of broken branches.

“What are you Why are you doing this?” Biff screeched, terrified out of his mind. He felt his throat opening and closing convulsively; he’d be vomiting soon.

Tom raised his shirt, exposing his white stomach. Written across it in angry red welts was a word that none of the men had ever seen or heard before. Bathin.
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bebeluv1
Nemesis
Mark and Willow

Mark sat in silence, soaking in the conversation that had just taken place at Domenica’s pad. Everyone kept talking about how all the men were having dreams about Bathin. Well, HE was a man, and he’d not had any such dreams. What exactly did that mean? Mark pursed his lips, walking hand in hand with Willow back to their digs, lost in thought. Who was Bathin and why was he the only guy not dreaming about him? He made a mental note to ask Danny if Bathin had entered his dreams. Maybe he wasn’t the only one….maybe.

“What are you thinking about, Mark?” Willow asked, leaning in closer and tightening her grip on his hand.

“Just….” Mark sighed. “I dunno. I was thinking about how Misty and Edward talked about how all the men were having dreams about Bathin. But I’m not. So ARE all the men really having these dreams, or just Rita’s men? You know? We don’t really know for sure. Are Edward and Will dreaming about him? Are the breeder men dreaming about him? I didn’t ask, did you?”

Willow shook her head. “I didn’t think to ask. I was a little riled up,” she laughed a little self-conciously.

Mark grinned, his smile lighting up his whole face. “Oh, yeah, you were pretty agitated, all right. Little spark plug, arentcha?”

Willow slapped Mark’s arm playfully. “Somebody had to point out that Rita hasn’t exactly shown that she’s worthy of our trust. I mean, c’mon, the woman is basically running a slave camp.”

“Yeah, I don’t disagree with you there,” Mark said, scratching his chin. “But I’m not sure siding up with this Bathin guy, demon or not, is going to be any better. A dictator is a dictator, ya know?”

“Well, we really don’t know anything about Bathin. He might only want to destroy Rita because of what she’s doing. Isn’t that what we were on the way to Ankeny for?” Willow stopped, realizing that SHE was on her way to Ankeny, Mark wasn’t. “I was going to Ankeny to meet Zeke,” she corrected herself. “Were you?” she asked curiously.

Mark shook his head. “No idea who that is. Sorry.”

“No biggie,” Willow responded. “None of us knew either until Domenica starting talking about him.” Willow’s face scrunched up suddenly, and then sorrow filled her eyes. “Lex and Callie talked about him, too,” she remembered.

Mark stopped and wrapped Willow up in a big bear hug, resting his chin on top of her head as she cried. “I’m sorry, honey,” Mark whispered, stroking her hair. “I miss my family, too.”
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Skin by Spades aka Volture.