A New Republic Chapter 1: Sacrifice, Part 4

Peace and Dave exit the cafeteria as Painless stands up to address the group. “I'd like to share with you a few words of advice about our new world. I know doctors always seem like alarmists and nothing bad ever happens to you, so just bare with me. I won't take too much of your time. Aside from the obvious ghouls, raiders and the like, the most dangerous aspect of this new world is the general lack of health care. Formerly treatable and sustainable illnesses such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and the like are deadly without treatment regiments. There are still places that specialize in treatment of these conditions, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so I am distributing some information on how to identify some common symptoms and avoid contributing factors such as obesity. If you find yourself in the advanced stages of one of these conditions, contact us and we will do our best to see that you are relocated to a place where you can receive the treatment you need. Don't let infections fester. Keep antibiotics on hand if you want to keep your appendages. Speaking of which, gangrene, trench foot and other flesh eating diseases have become more common as you might expect. Learn how to recognize and treat them. Other than that, we have seen deadly outbreaks of MRSA rising to near epidemic levels. MRSA is notoriously difficult to treat, even under the best circumstances, so the best way to beat it is to avoid it. Other viral and bacterial infections are becoming increasingly problematic as well. The best way to avoid these is through good hygiene. Keep yourself and your surroundings clean. Soap, bleach, Lysol and other disinfectants should be part of any survival kit. I cannot stress this enough. Cuts and other trauma need to be tended to by your doctor, however insignificant they seem. We are seeing Tetanus and infection becoming more problematic because people are not tending to seemingly insignificant lesions. Without refrigeration you can use salt to preserve food, but never eat anything that's rancid. Make sure fowl and swine are well cooked. If you have any concerns about your drinking water, boil it. Never drink from a river downstream of a beaver dam. Mosquitoes and ticks spread disease, so use repellent if you have it available. Rats caused the bubonic plague, carry rabies and other diseases. A rat or a bat or even a dog can just as deadly as a ghoul. Learn how to identify poison oak, poison ivy, venomous snakes and spiders and other dangerous plants and animals. This is all covered in the materials I am distributing, so read it and try to stay healthy. Do you have any questions?”

Abraham does. “What can you tell us about walker bites and scratches?”

“Good question, doctor.” Painless turns to Abraham. “I didn't address that because frankly most of what we believe is only theory. We believe that the rapidly advancing fever and consequent death associated with infection is probably more related to the general infectious state of the ghoul itself than the disease that causes reanimation. Diseases and infections that might kill a man doesn't kill the ghoul, so the diseases and infections continue to fester and grow without hindrance. The resulting rot and decay probably contribute to the appearance that we associate with ghouls, but also with their seemingly infectious nature. In short, it is likely that what causes the syndrome that appears to cause the transmutation is actually no more than a transference of the infectious diseases that these ghouls carry rather than some unknown bloodborne pathogen. That is why the amputation of your leg saved your life Abraham. If a bloodborne pathogen were responsible it would have been distributed throughout your body in less than a minute and far beyond your lower leg in seconds, but most of the diseases and infections carried by these ghouls act more slowly. In theory, an immediate and thorough cleaning of the wound site should stop the infection from spreading, but the complexity of such a quick and thorough cleaning is beyond the scope of what is possible within current limitations of medical science, so this theory is still unproven to the best of our knowledge. A more practical approach is the removal of the wound site and the surrounding tissue. You are, excuse the pun doctor, walking proof of the effectiveness of this method. I should issue a few words of caution on this topic while we are at it. While most people believe that the only way to be infected by a ghoul is through a bite or a scratch, any contact with a ghoul or ghoul tissue can spread infection through an open wound or lesion. For this reason, we recommend extreme caution when attempting to handle a ghoul. In fact, we advise against handling ghouls at all when it can be avoided. Best to burn the bodies, and always wear gloves and a mask when attempting to move the bodies to a burn pile.”

In the yard Peace and Dave have finished the walk around and Peace is discussing his thoughts with Dave. “Ok, Dave, I have a few thoughts and ideas to share with you. First of all, I'd seal that tunnel. You can pile some of that rubble up and reinforce it with cement. That is your biggest vulnerability.”

Dave nods in agreement. “We are planning to, we just haven't gotten around to it yet.”

Peace continues, “Good. The water tower will run out of water eventually. I would cut the top off when it does so that it can collect rainwater. Then keep an eye on it so that you don't get dead rats and birds fouling it.”

“Good idea. Is rainwater potable?”

“It is these days. Not so much acid rain with the factories gone.” Peace looks toward the fence. “I wish I could think of a way to keep those ghouls from gathering around the fence. The fence is too massive to electrify... I don't know. Too many ghouls piling up on the fence could compromise its integrity. Plus, if we could keep the ghouls away we could bait the field out there to try to get some deer for you guys. Maybe we could set up some kind of distraction, A bell or something, but that wouldn't hold the ghouls' attention if a deer wandered up, not that one would with a bell ringing anyway. You'll figure something out. These are all minor details, and you've got this place buttoned down pretty well so far.”

“Thank you. These are all good points.” Dave waits expectantly.

“Now, don't take this the wrong way Dave, but you were a cop, so you're familiar with chain of command. Right now everybody turns to you for everything. They respect you, and they trust you, but the group is growing, and eventually you're not going to be able to handle everything yourself. You know that right?”

“Of course.”

“Good. Have you thought about organization? I think you need to start delegating your authority and deferring to others. Not so much for yourself right now, but you need to start establishing more leaders. Let the people who will ultimately have to handle different aspects of the outpost start building trust and experience. I think the time for this is now while you still have time to guide them and make sure they can handle authority.”

“That makes sense. It's just easier to handle everything myself right now. I'm not an administrator, I'm a doer.”

“I don't like administration either. I have passed on promotions to remain in the field. Nobody is better than I am in the field, but the day will come when I will have to leave what I love to do something else. I think that time is now for you Dave. Not that you are not still plenty capable, but your people need you to assume a different role now.”

“How would you organize us, Peace?”

“Oh, that's not for me to do. I can suggest some basic structures, but nobody can decide who fits which role better than you. Nobody can decide which areas need more or less attention than others better than you. Of course, there are some obvious choices. Abraham, for example, is the only choice for heading up medical, but who would you follow into combat? Somebody has to head security, and if you were to ever find yourself needed for a security detail, you would need to defer to him even if you think you know better. That is what leadership is about, making other people successful.”

“And how do I do that?”

“You pick the people who are best qualified to do what needs to be done, and then you let them do it. Don't ever do anyone else's job for them. Nobody should ever have to report to more than one person. If somebody asks you a question about medicine, you send them to Abraham. Even if you know the answer, you send them to Abraham. If you answer their question, you are not letting Abraham do his job. It may seem counter intuitive, but it works. Trust me on this. So of course you can be an administrator, it's the easiest thing in the world.”

“I get that; chain of command. So what roles do you think I should institute?”

“I would start with three areas if I were you. Defense, Medical and Agricultural. Then, you can add new roles as needed, like Commerce or Justice. These are the people who report to you and only to you. You might call them Minister of Defense, Minister of Science and Medicine and Minister of Agriculture.”

“Isn't that a bit stuffy?”

“Yes it is. You don't tell Abraham 'I dub thee Sir Abraham of the scalpel, Minister of Science and Medicine,' you say 'Abraham, I'm putting you in charge of medicine.' Titles are for flow charts and directories. I don't care what you call them, and neither do they as long as you let them do their job.”

“Ok, I'll do my best.”

“Good, now to the final item. I am not going to put you on the map. I'm sure you agree that is for the best. Once you get a little better established we can revisit that decision. How about a green flag though? I gave you one for your vehicle, but would you like one to fly over the prison?”

“What is expected of us if we fly the flag?”

“Only that you treat anyone else flying the flag as a friend and that your actions don't reflect badly on The Republic.”

“We would do that anyway? What are the advantages of flying the flag?”

“Anybody who recognizes the flag will treat you as a friend of The Republic.”

“Ok, so if we fly your flag we face retribution from your enemies, right. I don't know if we're equipped for that.”

“All our enemies are dead.”

“All of them? No one escapes? What about the ones who surrender?”

“Dave, I was black ops. ALL of our enemies are dead. Didn't you see Saving Private Ryan? We don't want anyone seeking retribution against us or our allies. I will leave a flag with you. You can fly it when you've sured up your defenses.”

“We'll fly it.”

“Fly it when you're ready if you want to. We won't pressure you to fly our flag. We only want you to fly it when it's in your best interest to do so, and at this point it doesn't really hold much benefit for you if I'm honest. If you were out west I would recommend that you fly it for the protection it would afford you, but until we have established more of a presence out here I can't offer any significant degree of protection.”

“What if somebody asks about the flag, what do we tell them?”

“You tell them whatever you want as long as it's true. We have nothing to hide.”

“So, I should tell them that a black ops team baited us into a trap to give us gifts? Anyone would believe that.”

“It's the oldest trick in the book. Now let's go inside and see how the others are doing.”

When Dave and Peace return to the cafeteria, Painless is answering questions about The Republic. “A member is like a friend only with more responsibilities and more benefits. A republic under The Republic has to have elected officials and they have representation in The Republican Congress... Here comes Peace, he can tell you anything you could ever want to know about The Republic. He's one of the founders.”

“I didn't find it, I made it.” Peace keeps a copy of Plato's Republic even though he knows it by heart. “Don't look at me like I'm Thomas Jefferson, The Republic hasn't even been in existence for a year yet! Hopefully someone will come along and form a real government before this all gets out of hand. It all started because I read this book called The Republic of Pooh and I thought it was pretty cool. Apparently there was some old dude with a big beard named Plato and he really liked honey... I don't know, it's confusing, but it has a lot of pictures. Or was it The Tao of Pooh? Maybe it was Pooh and The Philosophers... Anyway, his best friend has this springy tail...” Another book Peace kept was Tao Te Ching, which he often describes as five thousands words extolling the virtue of action over words.

Dave almost lets another smile slip. “Ok, does anyone have anything else for Peace before he leaves?”

Marci stands up. “Will we see you again?”

“I can't promise you that,” Peace looks around the room “but I can promise that this will not be the last you see of The Republic.”

Dave walks over to Peace with his hand extended. “Thank you. Not just for the gifts, but for helping restore our faith in people, and for giving us hope.”

Peace shakes Dave's hand. “Stay vigilant, Dave. You are positioned for success here, but the rest is up to you.”

Painless helps Abraham stand up. “Come on, let's tend to that leg. We'll bring you back when we're done.”

The group walks Peace, Angel and Painless to the yard where the Humvee is waiting. Peace gets a large folded green flag out of the back of the vehicle and hands it to Dave as Angel and Painless help Abraham into the back seat before climbing in themselves. Peace climbs in the front seat with Sparky. Dave opens the gate for the Humvee and closes it behind them when they leave. Dave removes one of the new pistols from his holster and begins to clear the ghouls who have gathered around the gate.”

At the scout camp, Popeye is taking the fence down while Nero stands guard on the roof of the trailer. Each section of fabric retracts into its corresponding pole like a window shade, and in no time Popeye is lifting the entire bundle up to Nero on the roof. Popeye enters the trailer while Nero straps the fence bundle to the roof before climbing down and following Popeye into the trailer.

Inside the trailer, Painless is fitting a prosthetic leg for Abraham. “You're lucky you still have good articulation in your knee. Prosthetics were custom made, so this was only meant to be temporary, but it should work out fine. The fitment might not be perfect, but close enough. The ankle has a slight bit of articulation, but your gait will be a little stiff. The length is adjustable if you need to change it, just unlock this clip here and turn this bolt here. How does it feel?”

Abraham stands up. “Woah!” His balance is unsteady on his new foot.

“It's ok. Continue using your crutches until you get used to it. It will start to feel natural in a couple days.”

“I'm sure it will. Thank you doctor. Thank you.”

“No need for that, Abraham.” Painless looks at Popeye. “Will you escort us to the Humvee?”

“Ya mon. Hop on Popeye's back, him g'wan give ya'a ride!”

“No need for that Popeye, I'm going over with Abraham in the Humvee.” Peace smiles, “unless you want a ride Abraham.”

“I think I can walk.”

Peace walks over to an intercom on the wall. “Sparky, can you bring the Humvee up next to the door here?”

The intercom cracks, “I'm already here. It's all clear.”

Peace gives Abraham his hand as Abraham climbs down from the Trailer. Abraham climbs in the back seat, before Peace jumps down and climbs in the front of the Humvee. Peace picks up the radio, “follow us over, and wait for us on the highway.”

Dave opens the gate when the Humvee arrives. Peace exits the vehicle and walks around to the back as Sarah and Marci help Abraham out. Peace motions Dave over to the back of the vehicle. “There's one more thing I want to show you.” Peace pulls a riot shield out of the back and shows it to Dave. The shield has a dozen scuff marks where it has been struck by bullets. “I was wearing this on my back when you first saw me cleaning that deer in the road. Whenever I think I am losing my humanity I think of this shield, and it reminds me that I have never shot a man for his meal. Whenever you feel like you are losing your humanity, I want you to think of this shield and remember that there are only twelve marks when there could have been thirteen. Good luck my friend.”

Dave doesn't know what to say. He wants to say be careful or don't do that anymore, but he doesn't. The tears welling up in his eyes say it for him.

It has been twenty-four hours since Dave first saw a madman in a robe cleaning a deer in the middle of a lonely highway. In twenty-four more hours a madman in a robe will be cleaning another deer on another highway. Right now, that man is somewhere in a cloud of dust on a dirt road, nearly gone. A green flag flies over a prison fortress in Georgia.

***

A New Republic Chapter 1: Sacrifice, Part 3

The emissaries are greeted by Jae Kyu and Billy as they return to the prison. Dave asks Jae Kyu and Marci to gather everybody for a meeting as he sets the ice chest down on the table in the cafeteria. When everyone has arrived, Dave points at the ice chest on the table. “Here, they sent some food back for you guys.”

As everyone who stayed at the prison digs in Billy says “Damn Dave, next time I'm going and you can stay here.”

“There won't be a next time. They're leaving in the morning” Dave informs Billy. “but they're going to come by the prison before they go. I wish you all could have gone with us, but thank you for keeping an eye on the prison.”

Jae Kyu looks expectantly at Dave, then at Marci. “What did they want?”

Dave apologizes, “Sorry, I'm still trying to process everything. Well, they say they want to help, and I'm inclined to believe them, but I don't know if I can trust my judgment right now. They definitely wined and dined us real good, but I wouldn't say I'm in love just yet because I'm afraid I might feel like a fool in the morning, waking up with my panties around my ankles in an empty bed.”

Benji looks confused. “Huh?”

“Sorry Benji. They say all the right things, but I don't know if they're saying them because they're true or because they know that's what I want to hear. I want to believe what they say so badly that I can't really trust myself to be objective. Sometimes people tell you what you want to hear just to get what they want.”

Abraham intervenes, “So why did they say they want to help us, Dave? And how?

Dave thinks for a moment, “Well, that's what I can't get past. At face value, they say that they want to build a better world, but they can't do it by themselves, so they help other people. I guess if they want tomatoes, they believe it is easier to give tomato seeds to a farmer than it is to build a farm.”

“Well, that makes sense to me Dave. What's the harm in hearing them out?”

“I don't know, Abraham. As far as how they can help us, I don't know that either. Any way they can is what they say. I don't even know if we need their help or what the cost of their help is. I just don't know what their angle is, and that's what makes me nervous.”

Billy speaks up as he continues to ravage a piece of corn. “Do you still think they might try to take the prison for themselves?”

“No. The only thing I can say for sure right now is that if they wanted this prison, there wouldn't be a damn thing we could do about it. These guys are professionals, that's undeniable. They're smart, they're highly trained and they are well equipped.” Dave pauses for a moment for emphasis, “We definitely don't want to get on their bad side, but they'd be good friends to have for sure.”

Marci interrupts, “Dave, did you go inside the trailer at all?”

“No. I meant to ask you what it was like in there. Why don't you tell us about the trailer, I think they called it their mobile command center.”

“Yeah, well I don't know much about this stuff, but there was a map on the wall with a lot of markings on it, and there was what appeared to be communication equipment kinda against a wall. They had some computers too. There were all different sized doors everywhere that looked like storage areas, and everything was all stainless steel and rivets. Very industrial looking. There was a kitchen with a large table that seated ten people. Beyond the kitchen were two bathrooms on either side with hot showers big enough for two.”

“I noticed you girls were spiffied up” interjects Billy.

Jae Kyu raises an eyebrow. “Big enough for two?”

“Yeah, it was nice.” Marci went on, “Karen and I had showers. Not at the same time, Jae Kyu! Anyway, beyond the bathrooms was a door that led to a hallway with rooms on the right side. The first room looked like an examining room, and the next room had four bunk beds with footlockers and wall lockers and the other two rooms had queen beds with foot lockers and wall lockers also. So there were four rooms along the hall then there was another door in the back, but I didn't see what was in that room. It kinda reminded me of being on a ship inside, actually.”

Jae Kyu comments, “That sounds like a pretty big RV. Wonder where I can get one.”

Marci agrees. “You and me both!”

Dave looks at Jae Kyu. “It was a semi trailer, actually.” Turning back to Marci, “I noticed the outside was armored. I assumed it was something like what you described inside Marci, but it was smart of you to take notes. Anyway, specifics aside, they are well equipped for sure. I also noticed that there was a certain uniformity in equipment. They all wear body armor called dragon skin. From what I've read, it's made of an extremely light polymer and it offers protection from just about any bullet short of a fifty caliber. Before the fall, it was only available to elite military units. I had only read about it and seen pictures until today. They all carry variants of the G36 assault rifle, which is pretty much the pinnacle of the .223 platform. Their sidearms were all suppressed HK USP's. Their sniper carried a Sako TRG-22, but that was the only one I saw, so I suppose that could just be personal preference. But this uniformity tells me that they didn't scavenge their gear along the way, it was issued. The choice of equipment tells me a lot too. The standard military issue rifle is the M16, sidearm is the Baretta 92, sniper rifle, the M24 and if they are even issued body armor it's kevlar. Military personnel always tend to stick with standard issue equipment, even when superior equipment is available because their training and familiarity with standard issue gear gives them advantages that usually outweigh any advantages afforded by superior equipment. This group's equipment is superior in every aspect, so their choice of this equipment indicates they have received advanced training on this equipment as well. All this means that they're definitely not just some national guard detachment or even standard infantry. They are elite, even by pre-fall standards. Also, their leader told me that he was black ops in his past life. More specifically, he was part of a covert wetworks team. So, these guys are extremely deadly, any way you look at it. If you had seen these guys before the fall, you were in serious trouble.”

Abraham stirs uneasily. “So, Dave, do you have any idea who they are?”

Dave raises one eyebrow. “I know who they say they are. They say they are scouts for something they call “The Republic,” which they claim to be an organization out West that has power, water, food, a hospital, manufacturing... All the makings of a modern society.”

Jae Kyu is skeptical. “Doesn't that seem to be a bit of overkill for scouts? I mean, I thought scouts were a couple guys with beards and binoculars looking for water...”

Dave nods in agreement,“Yes it does Jae Kyu. Very much so. Moreover, it's always been my understanding that scouts, in military terms anyway, are usually detachments from a larger force, sent ahead to survey. If they are scouts, then I'd hate to see the force that is following.”

Abraham urges Dave to slow down. “Let's go back to this republic. When I think of a republic I think of Rome, which was a collection of city-states that answered to a centralized government of elected officials, but were otherwise largely autonomous. If we apply that to today's world, the goals of a republic would be consistent with the agenda they claim, wouldn't they? Do you believe it's real?”

Dave nods in agreement. “That's what I was thinking, but don't you think we would have heard something about this republic by now?”

Karen shakes her head. “He said they were mostly out west, right? That's pretty far away in today's world. And we are hearing about it now, right? It's not like we can read about it in the newspaper.”

Dave turns his attention to Karen. “That's true, and there are other things that he said that lend credibility to his claims. He talked about Cedar Sinai, Humbolt County and Laguna Seca Raceway with a casual familiarity that leads me to believe that he has spent some time in California at least. Their existence alone adds credibility to their claim of a republic, and yes, Abraham, it is also consistent with the agenda that he claims. It all makes perfect sense, right? I think maybe I'm still hung up on my concerns about being told what I want to hear. If something seems to good to be true it probably is, right? I guess I am inclined to believe him, but I need more empirical evidence before I pack my bags and abandon what we have here for greener pastures out west.”

Jae Kyu perks up. “Is that even a consideration? Heading west I mean.”

“No,” Dave shakes his head. “I was just saying that I'm not completely convinced.”

“So where does that leave us?” asks Abraham.

“Well, that's pretty much it for my report, unless you guys have anything else to add.” Dave looks to Marci, Karen and Benji. “We just need to talk about their visit tomorrow. I don't know who is coming or what time, but I assume it will be early, so let's be ready. I want y'all to think about anything you might need from them. They have offered to help, so let's take them up on their offer. We shouldn't let this opportunity pass us by.”

“How about a ride to this republic?” jokes Marci.

Dave looks at Marci. “Are you trying to hurt my feelings? Tomorrow morning I want Jae Kyu and Billy on the towers, but don't aim your weapons at anybody unless something goes wrong. I'll meet our visitors at the gate. Everyone else stay in the cell block. I will bring them to you. Everyone needs to keep their weapons holstered unless it's absolutely necessary to do otherwise. Be polite and gracious. If there's nothing else, let's get some sleep. We have an early day tomorrow. Everyone should meet for breakfast in the cafeteria at sunrise.”

The group sleeps restlessly in anticipation of tomorrow's visit. Half concerned and half excited, the anxiety is the same. Marci stirs next to Jae Kyu who lies awake. His concerns and his excitement are not for himself, but for the restless girl stirring beside him, who smells like soap. Karen smells like soap too, but there is no one beside her to smell it. Billy sits vigil at her doorway. Dave does not stir. He sleeps, exhausted, not physically, but mentally and emotionally. Benji sleeps too, like children do, especially a child who has tasted his first beer. Abraham sleeps like someone who is too old to be anxious. Sarah sleeps. Everyone sleeps eventually, but the sun comes too soon, through small window holes casting long shadows, too thin to escape the light. Daybreak comes too soon and not soon enough.

Abraham is the first to rise, like farmers are. He always is. Water still splashes out of the faucet here, when the handle is turned, and there is gas too, so the match lights the stove where the water begins to boil in the percolator, waiting to become coffee. Abraham doesn't wait long this morning to be joined by Dave in the cafeteria. The water hasn't had time to become coffee yet. By the time it has, Billy and Karen have joined them as well, and the coffee is gone as soon as it is made, so Karen begins the process again. By the time the percolator has finished it's song again the rest of the group has arrived, thirteen in all. Karen stands at the stove, and white powder and yellow powder and water become something resembling scrambled eggs over the fire. Under the fire, in the oven, flour and water become biscuits before Billy and Jae Kyu head to their posts in the towers. There is still a thin orange line on the horizon, but only from the towers, and it is gone by the time the low rumble of the diesel engine is heard and dust betrays the approach of the Humvee before it stops, fifty yards from the gate. The suppressed rifle fire sounds like so many doors being slammed in the distance and the ghouls that had been standing at the fence lay motionless on the ground before the Humvee continues through the gate that Dave has opened.

Three robed figures emerge from the Humvee, but a fourth stays behind in the driver's seat. It is impossible for Dave to ascertain the identity of the three robed figures standing ten feet away from him until they lower their hoods to reveal their ballistic masks. Dave immediately recognizes the one with the Peace sign from yesterday's encounter. The figure to Peace's left is smaller in build and shorter, and at the top of her mask is only a small golden circle, which Dave surmises to be a representation of a halo for Angel. Dave recognizes the symbol on the mask to Peace's right as the Rod of Asclepius.

Addressing each one individually, Dave greets his guests. “Welcome Peace, Angel, Doctor. Thank you for coming.”

Each guest nods in recognition as Dave welcomes them before Peace approaches Dave, presenting a gloved hand. “Good morning, Dave. I hope the gunfire didn't startle you.” Peace surveys the grounds. “It is indeed a prison, isn't it? It's not luxurious, but it's spacious, and it keeps you safe I hope.”

Dave apologizes. “We should have cleared the walkers before you arrived, but they have become part of the scenery around here and we don't concern ourselves with them usually so it slipped our mind. Life is enough of a luxury for us these days, but it's good to have some room to stretch our legs. The fences keep us safe from the walkers at least. As you can see, our crops are healthy. We diverted a stream under the fence over there for irrigation. Should we head inside?”

“We brought a few things for you. Let us grab them from the vehicle before we go in.” Peace walks around to the back of the Humvee, returning with an aluminum rifle case. Painless and Angel are carrying crates. “Lead the way.”

“Let me help you with that.” Dave takes the crate from Angel before escorting his guests to the entrance. Inside, Dave leads them to the cafeteria, where a table relieves them of their goods. “Please have a seat. I'll go get everyone.” Dave returns shortly with his people.“You already know Marci, Karen and Benji. This is my daughter, Lilly,” indicating the baby in Karen's arms. “Abraham is Marci's father, and this is her sister, Sarah. We only just met Chelle through a crisis we faced, but her assistance in that time of need was been invaluable. Jae Kyu and Billy are keeping watch from the towers.”

“Nonsense,” insists Peace “Sparky will radio us from the Humvee if there is anything that requires our attention. You should bring them down here with us.”

Dave looks to Benji, “Can you go ask Jae Kyu and Billy to join us?” Benji scuttles off with a nod. “Can I get you anything while we are waiting?”

Peace declines graciously.“Thank you, but no, we're fine. We can start with Abraham while we wait, you're a doctor, right?”

Abraham shrugs, “Of sorts. I was a veterinarian, but I do what I can these days.”

Painless nods at Peace. “That's a doctor in my book.”

Peace hands Abraham a bag. “Here are some tools for you. It should be everything you need for most situations.” Peace produces two large pharmacy bottles, a gallon of alcohol and miscellaneous other supplies from a crate. “And here are some supplies for you. Penicillin, morphine, bandages, tape, gloves, surgical thread... Does anybody in your group have any special needs?”

“Well, Billy's actually smarter than he looks...” jokes Abraham.

Peace smiles. “You know what I mean, diabetes, heart disease?”

Abraham nods, “Yeah I know. We're all pretty healthy as far as I know.”

Billy walks in “Somebody talking about me?” Benji and Jae Kyu follow.

Peace looks at Billy. “You must be Billy.”

“I heard that Abraham! If you weren't the only doctor in a hundred miles I might have to hurt you, but then there'd be nobody to stitch you up!” Billy smiles and turns to Peace. “Yeah, I'm Billy. I'm guessing you're Peace by the sign on your mask.”

“I am indeed, and this is Angel and Painless. You're in luck actually, Painless is a doctor if you feel the urge to hurt Abraham, but I wouldn't advise it. One day you might need stitching up and we just gave Abraham our last extra needle.” Peace turns to Jae Kyu “Jae Kyu, Marci speaks highly of you. You two were part of my welcome party yesterday if I remember correctly. Thank you again for not shooting me. So if everybody is here we should get started.” Peace looks at Dave.

“I believe this is all of us.” Dave acknowledges.

Peace addresses the group. “Ok, good, I don't know what Dave told all of you already, but let me just reassure you that we are definitely not here to steal your powdered eggs. It is our goal to help you be successful in your venture here on the farm. To that end, we have taken the liberty of printing a few copies of a map of this area that we prepared for you. It has the locations of several settlements in this area, but not all. Some of the people we have met along the way have asked us not to disclose information about them or their whereabouts, and we respect their request for discretion. The map is up to date with our most recent information as of today, but things change quickly out here, so don't depend on the information on this map for critical accuracy. There is a key on the map, but we have highlighted some key points of interest such as suppliers, medical aid locations, military outposts, and so on. We have also included all the information we have available on hostile territories, both ghoul and human, but again, do not assume that an area is safe because it is not marked hostile on the map. This is by no means a complete map, but the information on it is good information, not hearsay. We have only included information that has been verified by ourselves or other detachments from The Republic, so in this area that would be just us so far actually. We are also giving you this companion book, which includes more detailed reports on some of the key points on the map. We hope this is able to help you steer clear of trouble and establish trade and alliances with nearby settlements if that is your desire. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with this map while I prepare this next item so we can answer any questions you may have about the map before we leave.” Peace produces a sheet of stationary from a folder and proceeds to write a note while the group studies the map. When he has finished writing the note, Peace hands it to Dave and asks him to read it to the group. “I'm going to seal it, but I thought you would want to know what's in it before I do.”

Dave reads aloud:

“Dear friends,

I hope this note finds you well. Please treat these new friends of The Republic as friends of your own, as we are trying to help them establish themselves as a prosperous member of our community. Any aid you can provide to assist them in this endeavor will be viewed as aid to The Republic. Of particular interest would be a dairy cow and some chickens, but any additional aid that you might offer will be appreciated. Please accept these veterinary medications as a token of this appreciation. We remember your express desire for these items when we last met, so of course when we ran across them on our travels our thoughts were of you. Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

Sincerely,

Peace”

Peace takes the note from Dave, inserts it into an envelope and seals it with a wax imprint before he hands it back to Dave. He then hands Dave a box full of various bottles of bovine vaccines. Finally, Peace produces a small green flag emblazoned with a gold phoenix. “This green flag signifies a friend of The Republic. A red flag like this means a full blown member, white is a republic under The Republic and a blue flag like the one we fly is for The Republic. Anyway, fly this small flag on your vehicle and take this note and these supplies to this outpost here on the map.” Peace points to a town with a picture of a cow, a green flag and a red cross on the map about a hundred miles from the prison. “Try to find a livestock trailer before you go, but if you can't they'll probably have one that you can borrow. They run a small dairy farm, and they have pretty regular trade with milk, butter and eggs primarily. They also have a veterinarian for the livestock who offers basic medical care for people if they need it, coincidentally. You might want to take Abraham with you. They should be flying a large green flag like this one. If they are not then you should approach with extra caution.”

Peace pushes one of the crates to the middle of the table. “Here, this is just some various items I thought you might be able to use. There is some whiskey, a little hash and opium too... There are some solar panels, water purification bottles, gloves, bug repellent, bleach, peroxide... That sort of thing.”

Peace reaches over and opens the rifle case to reveal a bolt action rifle with a black polymer stock and a barrel that is well over an inch in diameter. “This is the Remington 700/308 SPS. The barrel is internally suppressed, so when using subsonic ammo it's whisper quiet. It sounds like a bb gun, but you can shoot a ghoul through the eye at a hundred yards all day. You don't have to shoot them in the eye though. The bullets pack a very decent punch down range. Much past a hundred yards though and the bullet destabilizes and drops like a rock. The bolt has a nice quiet, smooth, positive action, and since it's not gas operated you don't have the 'ka-chunk' sound of the blowback action to give your position away either. It's one of our favorite weapons when silence is paramount. I've already fitted it with a nice 3x scope, so she's ready to go.” Peace reaches in the second crate and pulls out an ammo can. “This is five hundred rounds of subsonic 150 grain .308 ammo. Don't use anything but subsonic ammo in the rifle or you'll ruin the barrel.”

Peace pulls two plastic pistol cases out of the crate next and opens one to reveal a match grade 1911 with an attached suppressor. “We use 9mm because they are a bit quieter, but they require specialized subsonic ammo. We thought .45 would be a better fit for you because all .45 ammo is subsonic by nature. It does pack more of a punch than 9mm too and it's still pretty quiet. The sound of the heavy steel slide racking is probably louder than the shot itself. Anyway, we have two of these for you.” Peace pulls out another ammo can. “And here's some more ammo for you. One thousand rounds of .45 ACP JHP. I have heard tales of +P loads for .45 reaching supersonic speeds at high altitudes, but unless you're planning on climbing Kilimanjaro any .45 ACP ammo will work fine in these pistols.”

Peace digs around in the crate. “Let's see what else we have here... Ah, here are some pull through cleaning kits so you can keep your new toys working. By the way, you know you have to clean those cans right? They unscrew and come apart for cleaning, and so does the rifle barrel... there are instructions in the manuals. There are some holsters in here... Oh yeah, there's a rifle sling in here for the 700... extra magazines... a couple shooting vests... Here, this crate should have anything you need for your new guns.” Peace pushes the second crate to the middle of the table next to the first.

Peace begins to wrap up. “Well, I guess that's about it for us today. If you need anything in the future you can contact The Republic from the location on the map with the little satellite dish. The Republic can always contact us. Depending on the urgency, we can have a team here in as little as seventy-two hours. We will be working our way down to a town in Florida called Destin. We've received reports of a settlement there, a fishing village on the Gulf that seems to be doing very well. Do you have any questions or specific requests for us before I hand things over to the doctor?”

Dave stands up and looks around his group. “Do any of you have anything?”

Darryl is the first to speak up. “I can always use more arrows for my crossbow if you run across any.”

“We'll keep an eye out for you.” Peace takes notes on a computer tablet. “Any special type?”

Darryl shakes his head. “No, just regular arrows.”

Abraham speaks up next. “I hate to seem ungracious after everything you've already given us, but these crutches are killing me. If you run across any prosthetic supplies at a medical supply warehouse or anything like that I could be more productive here.”

Painless stands up. “I'm way ahead of you Abraham. I was going to suggest that you come back to our camp when we're done here so I can fit you with something for that.”

Dave looks around the group again. “Is that it?”

Marci speaks up. “I've been looking for a Starbucks with wi-fi. Let me know if you run across any of those, would you.”

Peace smiles. “We'll keep that in mind, Marci. The doctor would like to go over a few things with you while I do a walk around with Dave.”

***

A New Republic Chapter 1: Sacrifice, Part 2

The conversation on the walk back to the prison raises more questions and apprehension about Peace and his comrades. Trust does not come easily in this world, and while these new acquaintances had done nothing to warrant mistrust, they had also done nothing to earn the trust of Dave's group. What is their agenda? How does a relationship with Dave and his people fit into it? In the end, the appeal of hot venison steak is not worth the risk they would face if they accepted the invitation. If they were to meet this new group then it would be to assess their intentions and identify their agenda, not simply to eat their food. The decision whether or not to meet with this militant group is not a decision for Dave alone. They would have to make this decision as a group when they got back to the prison.

Jae Kyu asks, “Dave, was it a good idea to invite those guys back to the prison?”

Dave nods to acknowledge Jae Kyu's concern. “I understand your concern Jae Kyu, but I don't like the fact that we could be walking into a trap very much either. You know that they had eyes on us from hidden locations back there, right? They will do the same at their camp, for sure. They could have taken us out at any time if they had wanted to. At least back at the prison we can account for our guests. We're in control at our home. They're in control at theirs. That is exactly why they wouldn't come back to the prison with us, so it's a moot point anyway.”

“It ain't that complicated. They didn't come back to the prison 'cause they didn't want to walk into an ambush, Dave!” adds Billy.

Marci had been quiet until now. “Billy's right. Did you see what they were wearing under those robes? There are plenty of people out here who would kill that man just for his helmet!

“Who did he kill for his helmet? Maybe they are planning to ambush us. We were baited too, did y'all notice that? Why was he skinning the deer in the middle of the road? That's not what you do. You bleed it and gut it and take it back to camp to skin and butcher it. And half a mile from the prison? They wanted us to find them. They probably want the prison! It's a lot easier to take an empty prison than it is to take one that's defended. In any case, I don't think it was about home field advantage” Billy continues, “at least not entirely.”

As the group approaches the prison they encounter a handful of ghouls that are dispatched effortlessly. As they enter the gate Dave says “come on, let's discuss this with the others.”

Inside the prison everyone gathers and the encounter with Peace is recounted. It is decided that Peace and his companions are indeed too significant to be ignored, but that the risks must be mitigated. Only a small contingent of the group should attend the dinner as emissaries. Furthermore, since the most plausible scenario for concern is that Peace intends to lure the group into a trap to facilitate the capture of the prison facilities, the emissaries should be composed of the most sympathetic members of the group while the strongest and most capable members should stay behind to defend the prison and, if need be, mount an infiltration and rescue party should events transpire that require such actions. With that in mind, the emissaries will include Benji, Karen, Marci and, of course, Dave. The sun is getting low and the shadows long as the emissaries depart, and it is decided that a reconnaissance team will be deployed at midnight if the emissaries have not returned.

The emissaries arrive at the destination in time to witness a zombie being dispatched by a loud pop of electricity as it comes in contact with a large lamé fence and Dave is reminded of Peace's warning not to attempt to enter the perimeter on his own, its reason now apparent. On the ground around the perimeter lie a half dozen charred and smoldering bodies, long dead before their encounter with the fence. A red light on a post changes to green and a portion of the fabric is rolled back to allow the car to enter the perimeter. As soon as the car is through a large man in tactical body armor rolls the fabric back again to complete the perimeter and the light changes once again from green back to red.

Inside the camp is the matte black Humvee from earlier as well as a matte black armored semi with a cattle pusher and a matte black trailer heavily fortified with thick armor plates. Another blue flag like the one on the Humvee hangs from a pole on the cab. The buck has been butchered and is on a rack above a fire pit, his hide hanging nearby. Peace meets Dave at the the car and warns the group to stay clear of the fence. He is no longer wearing his robe or his ballistic mask, although he still wears his helmet and dragon skin. His face is clean and handsome with sincere eyes. and he looks to be around thirty years of age. “I'm glad you made it. Just the four of you?”

“Yes” smiles Dave, “unfortunately it will just be the four of us tonight. Thank you for having us.”

Turning to Marci, Peace offers his hand, “Glad you could make it. We weren't properly introduced earlier. I am Peace.”

Marci smiles as she takes his hand. “I'm Marci. Pleased to meet you.”

Dave introduces the others, “This is my son, Benji, and Karen.”

“Thank you for coming.” Peace's smile is genuine. “This is my wife, Angel.” Even in ballistic gear she is feminine and beautiful. She nods as her eyes betray her smile. “The Jamaican giant who opened the gate for you is Popeye, Sparky is helping him cook the deer. That's Vision and Nero keeping watch on top of the mobile command center and Painless and Cinnamon are inside.”

With introductions and pleasantries addressed, Dave and Peace walk over to the Humvee and sit on the hood to have a private discussion while the others intermingle. Peace begins by saying “I understand your caution Dave, and I respect you for it. Tell me what I can do to alleviate your concerns. I am here to help.”

Dave is anxious for answers, so he minces no words. “I am just trying to wrap my head around a couple of things. You can start by telling me why you were skinning that deer in the middle of the highway, and then you can tell me why you're here and exactly what it is that you want from us.”

Peace smiles at Dave's insight and candor. “I don't suppose you'd believe me if I said my knife was already out so I just carried on after dressing it, would you? You're half right if you suspect that I wanted you to find us. The truth is that we did want to be found, so yes, when we shot the deer we did use it as bait. We set up a perimeter and hoped that somebody would show up, but we did not know it would be you. We didn't even know you existed until you showed up. We have used this tactic many times, and sometimes the people who show up try to attack us, so we defend ourselves. Sometimes the people who show up cry and plea for help, so we help them in any way we can. So that brings us to why we're here. Simply put, we're here to help. And what we want from you is the same thing we want from everyone, and that is for you to find success in honest ventures and be productive, because we cannot rebuild this world by ourselves.”

“I find it hard to believe that you would put yourselves in harm's way to help others with no benefit to yourselves.”

“We are in harm's way whether we put ourselves there or not, and I didn't say there was no benefit to us. Back home we helped one group clear out a wind farm. We didn't know how to operate a wind farm, and they didn't know how to clear the lurkers out, but now we both have electricity, so I'd say we received some benefit there. The water treatment facility wasn't so easy, because we had to find engineers and put together a group to operate it, but now we have clean water. Then there is an agrarian community that was being harassed by raiders. When we flew our flag over their compound the raids stopped, so now we have sustainable food. We have a hospital, staffed with doctors and nurses. We produce basic pharmaceuticals at the hospital as well, antibiotics, morphine... We have limited manufacturing and we are working on petroleum refinement. We have suffered loss and yes, there are still times when we wonder if it's worth it, but these are the tasks we have chosen to undertake nonetheless.”

“And the eight of you did all of this?”

“Of course not. We are only a part of a larger community. We are a simple scouting party, and there are others like us. We are part of a republic, and we are just doing our small part.”

“So, where is this republic located?”

“We are mostly out west, but we are growing. We do a lot of good things, but we are not perfect. We make mistakes, but we are learning. We are learning about ourselves. We are learning about this new world. We do what we can, but there is still a long way to go, especially out here. The more populous the areas were before the fall, the more difficulties we face, and the eastern seaboard was the most densely populated area of the country. Many thought that this was an extinction level event, but mankind endures. I do not know if we will rise, like a phoenix from the flames, and I do not know if this fall will prove to be fortunate, but we have an opportunity to make a new world. A better world, but only if we learn from our past mistakes, and that is why we put ourselves in harm's way, as you put it.”

Dave is not certain if Peace is being completely truthful, but his motivations seem to make sense. “That's a nice story, but even if I did believe it I'm not sure why you would work so hard to build a new country that you'll never see in your lifetime. Are you sure this isn't just what you think I want to hear?”

“Most people we meet dream of a hot bath and a cheeseburger, yet when we tell them that we want to give them just that, they would rather believe that we have come to steal their women and children to put them in chains and make them push around a big heavy wheel endlessly and for no apparent reason. I don't understand. Perhaps I should have been a psychiatrist...”

“What were you before the world went to shit?”

“I did things that developed a certain skill set that turned out to be useful in this new world.”

“If you don't want to answer the question, just say so. Being cryptic doesn't exactly earn my trust. It makes me feel like you vagueness is hiding something.”

“I worked for the government. I'm not proud of all the things I did, and I doubt telling you would make me more trustworthy in your eyes, but I will if that is your wish. Black ops... Wetworks. I did bad things. I told myself I did them to bad people for good reasons, but maybe that was to make myself feel better, especially toward the end, when plausible deniability became increasingly more difficult. I think that makes it easier for me to do what I do now. On some levels, I think I am atoning. Hell, on every level I think I am atoning. Today, I tell people that I am called Peace in the hope that I will bring it, but back then I think the ones who called me Peace liked the irony. It was more complicated though. I believed that my actions, justified or not, at least had the effect of avoiding conflict on a larger scale, and that was true at least.”

“What about the others? Did they do the same thing?”

“The short answer is no. Angel was a ballerina with the Paris Opera Ballet. She was performing with her company stateside when the airports closed. She had locked herself in the security gate at the French Consulate, but the consulate was abandoned, and the doors were locked tight, so she effectively trapped herself. The roamers couldn't reach her, but she was dehydrated and starving when we found her. She recovered quickly. She was strong and fit, as you can imagine. The discipline of a ballerina is no joke. So she was well suited for our group, and she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, before or after civilization fell, so I took advantage of the situation and made her my wife. I don't think she minds though, at least we didn't make her push a heavy wheel round and round endlessly. Popeye grew up in Kingston, so the world hasn't changed much for him. We found him holed up at a farm in Humbolt county with more weed than most humans could consume in a lifetime, but I think he's pretty much smoked it all in the last couple months. It seems to be like spinach to him. He's also a damn good cook--he can make pretty much anything taste like jerk chicken. Painless and Cinnamon found us at our compound, and when they offered to join our cause I jumped at the opportunity. He was an ER doctor at Cedar Sinai and she was an ER nurse there as well, so they had plenty of experience treating trauma victims before the war. Also, he did a stint in Africa with Doctors Without Borders, so he has a skill set uniquely suited to this new world. I don't think he liked me very much at first. Something about dedicating his life to helping people while I dedicated my life to hurting them. I think I'm growing on him as he begins to understand my motivations though. We found Sparky at Laguna Seca Raceway. He had been a staff mechanic there and he took refuge at the speedway because the fence that used to keep deer from running out on the track while people drove around it at two hundred miles an hour was also fairly effective at keeping roamers out. He'd probably still be there trimming seconds off his lap times if he hadn't run out of racing fuel and Snickers bars, so now he keeps our vehicles running instead. Nero worked with me before the fall. He's a highly disciplined sniper, and Vision was his girlfriend back then. Now she's his spotter, but she's also turned out to be a damn good shot. So all in all I think we have an excellent team for most situations, and we get all the support we need from The Republic.”

Dave still wonders about Peace's intentions, so he thinks that clarity might come through Peace's curiosity. “Don't you have any questions for me?”

Peace nods. “I'd like to know what you know about the area's settlements or threats. Any experiences that you have had that might help us do our job would be good, but mostly I'd like to know what we can do to help you accomplish whatever it is you are working toward.”

Dave shrugs to indicate that his groups objectives are simple. “We're just trying to survive, man. Don't you want to know about our group?”

“You told me there are nine of you. I assume you are held up at the prison down the road. You said you had a safe outpost, so that makes the most sense. You were worried that we were trying to lure you out of the prison so that we could take it for ourselves, so you brought women and children with you to garner sympathy and you left your most able bodied people to defend the compound in case our intentions were as nefarious as you feared. I hope your concerns have been alleviated, at least to some degree. Anyway, this is just conjecture, so let me know if any of my suppositions are off base. And any further details you wish to share about your group could be helpful, but not necessary.”

“We would never leave the compound undefended, even if we trusted you implicitly. That doesn't mean that we thought you were leading us into a trap necessarily.”

“We don't take it personally. Being cautious isn't the same as being misanthropic, and in this world you wouldn't have survived this long without a degree of caution. I told you flat out that we wouldn't be able to go to your camp for security reasons. That was us being cautious, and we are highly trained and largely bulletproof! No, if you had shown up with eight more people I would have concluded that you were either lying about the size of your group, had no camp to protect or that you were idiots. So I applaud you for your caution, and I encourage you to stay vigilant.”

“There are nine of us like I told you before, and we have been held up at the prison for a couple months. We have planted a few crops and we have been able to maintain a defensive posture so far. Before that we were held up on a farm, but that got overrun. We spent the winter mostly day to day, just trying to survive until we found the prison. Atlanta is pretty much completely overrun...”

“Most urban areas are.”

“Yeah, but there is another group we met inside the city, but I don't know if they are still holding out. We were at the CDC and there was a doctor who shared some information about the plague.”

“There are some pockets of survivors in Atlanta still, but it's difficult there. What did the doctor have to say?”

“Well, we saw a ct scan of the transformation. Apparently, the cerebral cortex is affected, but higher brain functions do not return. He said it was probably viral or bacterial...”

“We believe it's viral.”

“And he sad that we are all infected.”

“Yes. You don't have to be killed by one of them to transform. Everyone who dies becomes one unless measures are taken. What happened to the doctor?”

“The CDC is gone. When it ran out of gas for the generators there were containment measures. It blew up, and the doctor is gone too.”

“Safety precaution. Was he in touch with any of the other facilities?”

“He said France believed they were close to a cure, but they are gone now too. I think the CDC in Atlanta was the last one.”

“Hmmm, that's interesting. Did he say anything about the origin?”

“No. Does it matter?”

“It might matter. Finding the cause might make it easier to find a cure. We believe it originated in Europe. Probably France, so that might explain why they thought they were close to a cure. It might have begun as an effort to extend the scope of human life that mutated, but we're not sure. Anyway, continue.”

“There is a cure. A bullet to the head!” Dave shakes his head in contemplation. “That's all I can think of right now. All that you'd care about anyway. I could tell you about losing my wife or my best friend... Sophie... Alex... We were able to save Abraham after he got bit in the leg by amputating it.”

“Sometimes that works if it's handled quickly. And I do care, but it's not going to help us rebuild the world.”

“Sorry I don't have more for you.”

“That's fine. Let's go see if dinner is ready yet.” Peace jumps down from the hood of the Humvee, heavy with his body armor, and Dave thinks he won't be able to survive the jump with the heaviness that is in his heart.”

On the way to the fire, now glowing in the night sky, Peace asks Dave what he did before the fall. “Were you in the military?”

“I was a cop.”

“That makes sense.”

Benji is helping Popeye by the fire and Marci has on new clothes, a black tank top and black BDU bottoms. Her hair is wet, and she smells like soap. She is giddy as she spins around and informs Dave that she's had a hot shower! “Karen's taking one right now! Did you have a good talk?”

“It was interesting. Where are your clothes?”

Marci looks coyly at the fire. “These were a gift, is that okay?”

“Of course, you look great. Don't drip on the fence, alright!” Dave lets a small smile as he walks over to Benji by the fire. He looks at Popeye, “I hope venison is the only thing you guys are smoking over here.”

Popeye's red eyes smile at Dave. “Everyting cris mon! Popeye g'wan keep him spinach for himself mon. Praise Jah!”

Another pop at the fence reminds Dave that this backyard barbecue is different from the ones he attended last spring, a gruesome reminder of the world that he had forgotten for a brief moment. He wishes he could forget again, but the smell of ion and burned flesh lingering in his nose won't let him.

Karen emerges from the trailer, hair wet and now dressed like Marci. Peace follows, tossing a cold beer to Dave and popping one open for himself. “Now, this is officially a barbecue! Just ignore the born on date.” Peace produces more beer from an ice chest and distributes them to the rest of the party before he finally tosses a Coke to Benji.

Dave walks over to Benji and takes the Coke. He then hands his beer to his young son. “I'm driving.”

Peace tosses another beer to Dave, “One for the road then. You can't wash grilled meat down with a Coke!”

Popeye carries a huge platter piled high with grilled venison over to a folding table and sets it down, followed by corn and potatoes and garlic bread. Angel brings a stack of paper plates, utensils, napkins, butter, salt and pepper. Everybody grabs a plate and loads it up with more food than they can eat before finding a place to sit. After everybody has eaten more than possible, they go back for yet more, but there is still more food left than they have eaten. Dave decides that he had been wrong when he thought that the food would not be worth the risk. The venison steak alone was worth the risk. Any information he could have garnered could never match satisfaction in his belly.

Having been relieved of their sentinel duties by Sparky, Nero and Vision have joined Dave and Benji by their SUV to enjoy some grilled venison. The young couple are trying to explain the difficulties they had trying to date before the fall. “They say love will prevail,” Nero tries to explain “but, there's no way we could have lasted before the fall. The ultimate irony is that Peace, who had always told me that I was an idiot for trying to maintain a relationship when we were in black ops together, is the one who brought her to me after the fall.”

“Peace knew how much you must have loved her to struggle through all of those difficulties” mused Dave.

“Either that or he knew that she was the only one who could save me. I kinda snapped when the world fell apart” admits Nero.

Peace joins the conversation as he approaches with an ice chest. “Kinda snapped? That's when I started calling him Nero. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, except his fiddle was a sniper rifle and there wasn't a walker left standing within a mile of the compound by the time I brought Vision to that rooftop. I knew she was the only one who could save him because I knew how much he loved her.” Peace sets the ice chest on the hood of Dave's car. “Here is some food for the rest of your people. You'd better get going before they worry. We'll be breaking camp in the morning, but we'd like to get together again before we leave. You can either come back here early or we can meet you at your camp. It's up to you, but if we see the place we might be able to offer some suggestions to help you get it buttoned down.”

Dave nods in agreement. “Thank you for the food, and thank you for having us. We really needed this. I wish I had brought the rest of our group. They're good people. If you'd be willing to come by in the morning we'd appreciate that very much. I would definitely love to have your input.”

“Certainly. We'll see you in the morning then. I think Marci and Karen are over by the fire with some of our guys. We hate to send you on your way at night, and you're certainly welcome to stay, but I'm pretty sure your people will worry.”

“You're right, we need to get going. Besides, I need to get this little lush to bed. We'll see you in the morning.” Dave and Benji gather Marci and Karen before saying goodnight to everyone and thanking them for their hospitality. Popeye looks for the all clear from Nero on the roof before he rolls the gate back for Dave to leave. As they drive away Dave sees the light change back to Red again in his rear view mirror.

***