Z-Day - 6:10 PM Central Time - Brooks High School, Omaha, Nebraska In the security office- Kyle Rogers sat glumly in his cell while Megan Petrovich stood guard over him. She was there more for his protection than to make sure he didn't escape, as there was little chance of that. He didn't have much confidence in her abilities though, considering she was unarmed. He was still badly hurt from when Darnell and Roy had nearly beaten him to death, and even armed cops hadn't been able to stop them - in fact, they had knocked one out and taken her hostage, enabling them and their buddies to get away. Kyle and Megan had finished their soup and were waiting for someone to bring them dinner.
In the security office-
Both Megan and Kyle looked up when Tariq entered from the lobby, carrying a tray of steaming food. "I've brought dinner for both of you," he said.
In the security office-
"Thanks," said Megan, taking two plates of food and some silverware. Tariq bowed and left the room. Megan cut the food on one of the plates before passing it in to Kyle; she wasn't going to let him have a knife. She was about to take a bite.
"I'm surprised you didn't think he poisoned or drugged it or something," said Kyle.
Megan stopped at the last second and returned the chicken to her plate. "Why would he want to kill you?" she asked. "If I recall correctly, he made sure you got brought in alive."
"Hey, you're the one who was suspicious of him. I was just making a joke."
"So you won't mind eating first, then?"
In the lobby- Tariqheard what Megan and Kyle were saying and frowned. Then he noticed that Lucy, Donald, Becky, Declan, Alvin, Murray, and Rachel had left the cafeteria and entered the hall to the east.
OOC,[b]Tariq[/b] is moving to the following thread. His player (if there ever is one again) must stop reading the current thread at this point. [b]Megan[/b] and [b]Kyle[/b] remain in the current thread.
In the security office-
"Fine," said Kyle. "I'll eat first to show you that it's safe." He took a bite out of the chicken. "Hey, this is pretty good!" Suddenly, he started to make choking noises. He clutched his throat and slid to the ground.
"Real funny, Kyle," said Megan, who clearly thought it was nothing of the sort.
Kyle dropped the act. "Had you going there for a second, didn't I?" Megan ignored him and began to eat her own chicken. "Of course, if the poison doesn't take effect for a while, then we'll both die." She glared at him.
In the security office-
"We're all gonna die anyway," said Kyle.
"Don't talk like that," said Megan. "We're surviving."
"Everything's screwed up. Civilization's over! Everyone in Omaha is going nuts, and outside the city the dead are all over the place. Nobody's going to help us."
"We can rebuild. We'll make Omaha safe, and then we can do something about the rest of the country."
In the security office-
"Civilization doesn't just collapse overnight," said Megan. But she knew enough history to know that civilizations did collapse. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor was it destroyed in a day, but it did fall. So did other advanced civilizations such as the Mayans and the Anasazi, for reasons that were less apparent. And they hadn't had to contend with the walking dead. She realized that she was trying to convince herself more than she was Kyle.
In the security office- Megan Petrovich and Kyle Rogers had not spoken for a while. They looked up in surprise when they saw Alvin and Murray leading a group of strangers into the security office.
The small group found itself inside the school's security office. The only way out was the way it had come into the office. A woman was sitting behind a desk, and a badly injured teenaged boy was locked in one of the two detention cells. The other cell was open. Blood was on the floor of both cells, more of it in the open one.
"Hi," the woman said to the newcomers. "I'm Megan Petrovich, the social studies teacher. Can I help you?" The four arrivals (John Lake, Gretchen Ehrlich, Ann O'Neill, and Miles Graham) all wore suits.
Gretchen asks; "I'm Detective Gretchen Ehrlich, Omaha PD." She motions to the cell flanking and backing John up "Can I ask why you have an injured minor in your custody and what crime you are detaining them on? They look like they need medical attention".
"Mam, where is the General and do not talk to civilans. They could be spies and in need of a hanging. Any fratilizing with the enemy will meet with the same punishment remember," Alvin said.
In the security office-
"I'm Special Agent Ann O'Neill," said the redheaded woman. She indicated the other man in a suit. "This is Special Agent Miles Graham. We're from the FBI."
"General?" said Megan, confused.
"I thought we were to be escorted to see the principal," said Miles.
"Oh, you mean Principal Adler. He's in the cafeteria eating dinner with most of the others. You're welcome to help yourselves. We have a lot of perishable food that needs to be disposed of." She turned to Gretchen. "Detective, this young man is Kyle Rogers, and he's in here because he brought guns and bombs to school and was planning to kill people. He got these injuries when a gang of students led by Darnell Jones stormed the office. They killed the guy in the next cell, who was locked up for murder, and they came very close to killing Kyle too. I wasn't here when it happened."
"I wasn't going to kill anybody!" protested Kyle. "And that rent-a-cop guarding me didn't even try to protect me!"
"And he has received medical attention. Dr. Hausmann had to come in here to patch him up afterwards when she should have been enjoying her meal and resting. She just helped save the world, and she does have a broken arm. There was nothing Jerry Law could have done to stop them. There were too many of them, and they'd have killed him too if he'd tried to do something by himself. Officer Kate Wheeler did show up along with Rachel Cohen and State Trooper Erica Spears. They broke into the office and tried to stop those punks, but they knocked out Erica, took her hostage, and escaped. Kate and a group of people went off to try to track them down. I'll gladly turn Kyle over to your custody. We're not really equipped here to deal with everything that's been going on. While I have had military training, I'm not armed. I might not be able to protect him if anything else were to happen." She paused and looked over at Alvin. "These people aren't civilians, they're law enforcement. They're okay. Do whatever they ask of you."
OOC,[b]Gretchen[/b] does not recognize the prisoner.
In the security office-
"This man is suffering from some kind of severe mental illness," said Miles Graham to Megan. "No doubt this illness was brought out by today's events. He seems highly unstable and dangerous to me. I recommend that you lock him up in that other cell."
Megan cleared her throat. "He's right in the room with you and can hear every word you're saying," she said. "Don't they teach you Feds people skills?"
"Please excuse my partner," said Ann O'Neill. "It's been a rough day for all of us."
"Rougher for some than others," said Kyle.
Miles ignored him and took out a photograph. "Have any of you seen this individual?" he asked. The young man in the picture was John Lee.
Alvin Drummond,[b]Alvin[/b] can do whatever you want, within the limits of his capabilities. However, he is not as far gone as you seem to be portraying him, and insanity takes many different forms other than just attacking people. Considering that the federal agents and police detective are all armed, this could end up being the last thing [b]Alvin[/b] ever does if he tries it.
Alvin Drummond,Not everyone in Vietnam was a soldier. There were plenty of civilians around, which added to the confusion of the situation. Even if he does believe [b]Miles[/b] is a soldier, that wouldn't mean he'd attack him. [b]Alvin[/b] can still function relatively normally, much as he did when he was in Vietnam. The only difference is that he thinks he's still there. He would not be going around killing or threatening to kill people he believes to be on his side, even if they piss him off. Doing that in Vietnam would have gotten him court-martialed. [b]Alvin[/b] is a soldier, not a psycho.
Handy,So again do you think I am playing Alvin wrong? I think that he thinks that his bottle is a rifle. I am playing him as a man who is still in Vietnam so he ignores that he is in a school to him this is a camp or sagion or somthing. If you think I am playing him wrong let me know and of course you can always take him as he is your character. Just let me know that as well
Alvin Drummond,The only thing I think you are getting wrong is the way you are misinterpreting his insanity. Most of that has only been in these comments and hasn't spilled over into his actions. What you said in the last comment is perfectly correct. [b]Alvin[/b] would think he's on a American base or in Saigon, but in neither of those locales would he try to kill his fellow Americans. Just because he is insane does not mean that he's about to snap and kill people just because they are near him. You did the same thing with [b]Colin Lewis[/b], who was suffering from a very similar insanity. At least [b]Colin[/b] was down to 1 Sanity at the time and was in a much more stressful situation. I'm not going to take [b]Alvin[/b] away from you. Just try to have him act the way he really would have acted in Vietnam.
In the security office-
"That's John Lee," said Megan. "He came to the school about an hour or so ago. Why are you looking for him?"
"He's a person of interest in a homicide that took place early this morning in Cheyenne," said Ann O'Neill. "We'd like to ask him some questions."
"Well, he's in the cafeteria, eating supper, along with most everybody else."
Alvin said, "Sir I must escort you. Charlie can be anywhere you know. Just like last year during the Tet Offensive. Follow me, if you see me go down then hit the dirt."
Gretchen replied; "There's no need Megan, in-light of these facts I think you are quite right in detaining him here. At least he should be safe. I would suggest finding a firearm or at the very least a weapon. This EMP device has worked once but as for the range and if these things are down for good is another matter."
Gretchen turns to Alvin placating to his delusion "Lets head for some 'chow' Alvin. I'll take tail-man charlie and you go point. Look alive marine, I need to see the principal."
OoC,[b]Gretchen [/b]will go to the canteen with [b]Alvin [/b]and see the principal.
In the security office-
"You can't just leave me here!" protested Kyle.
"Really, I'd feel much better if you took him off our hands," said Megan as Gretchen, John Lake, Ann O'Neill, and Miles Graham followed Alvin and Murray out.
In the lobby- Dr. Singh almost bumped right into Alvin as he exited the security office. The two men got in each other's way for a moment until the group of people exiting the security office got around them. Rashad Sadiq remained in the lobby.
In the north hall, ground floor- John Lee raced along the hall. There were single and then double doors on both sides of the hall. At the far end stood a thicker, metal door.
Dr. Singh straightens his coat after his collision with Alvin. He was about to launch into a tirade about the necessities of observation in a time of crisis, when he noticed the government agents.
"Ah! Greetings. You must be the government officials. I am Dr. Edward Singh, with the CDC, and I am very, very glad to see you."
John Lee moves quickly towards the back exit. He cuts across the hall, not trying too be quiet. He knew he had the evidence, they wanted to stop him from showing the world, if that was possible what was on his disc.
In the security office-
"I wonder what's going on out there?" said Megan, hearing the commotion out in the lobby.
In the lobby- Jerry Law entered the lobby from the east hall. He was followed shortly by Stephanie Bridges, Adam Donnelly, Chester Johnson, Michiko Watanabe, and Elijah Smith. There they saw the two men and two women in suits, as well as Alvin and Murray.
"Where is that suspicous-looking man going?" said Miles Graham, motioning at Rashad. He and Ann O'Neill, the redhead in the black suit, moved around the corner to the north hall quickly, leaving Dr. Singh, Alvin, Murray, Gretchen Ehrlich, and John Lake in the lobby with the others.
In the north hall, ground floor-
As John Lee pushed through the door at the end of the hall, Rashad entered, followed by Ann and Miles.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- John Lee found himself in a stairwell, with stairs going both up and down. The stairs down led into complete darkness; he recalled that there was no electricity in the building due to the EMPs. There was also a fire exit directly ahead of him, leading behind the school.
John Lee,[b]John[/b] recognized the two agents in black suits who had followed him into the hall. He would have known them anywhere. They were the pair who had shot the old Chinese man dead back in Cheyenne!
Dun dun dun... :twisted:
"But wai... Damn it. I was hoping for government officials, not glorified police officers." mutters Dr. Edward Singh, as the two suited figures rush off after Rashad.
"Ah. Miss Bridges. I am afraid that those people were not the authorities I had hoped for them to be. They seem to be law enforcement of some sort. Chasing after some mad killer. As if we did not have enough insanity around here to begin with."
Alvin Drummond,If you read my last update again you'll see who was in the lobby with you. [b]John Lake[/b] and [b]Gretchen[/b] ran off to the north, but everyone else mentioned in the lobby was still in the room with you.
In the lobby- Megan stuck her head out of the door to the security office. "Is everything all right?" she asked. "What's happening?"
"Another killer?" said Stephanie to Dr. SIngh, looking upset. "Well, at least there's someone here to do something about it. We need people to maintain order too so that we can do our work in peace."
"Come on, let's get upstairs," said Adam. He led her, Chester, Michiko, and Elijah north, leaving Dr. Singh in the lobby with Jerry, Alvin, and Murray.
In the north hall, ground floor- Adam, Stephanie, and their group walked slowly down the hall. Ahead of them, John Lake and Gretchen raced for the stairwell door. Ann and Miles burst through the door and into the stairwell, also drawing their guns.
In the north stairwell, upper floor- John Lee reached the upstairs landing when he heard the female agent call out from below and realized that his ruse had not worked. The stairs continued upwards, presumably to the roof. A door also led south into a hallway. A metal fire door led north, apparently to a fire escape.
In the lobby- Megan returned to the security office.
Alvin, Murray, and Dr. Singh returned to the east hall, leaving Jerry Law alone in the lobby.
In the north hall, ground floor- John Lake and Gretchen Ehrlich ran into the stairwell. Adam, Stephanie, Chester, Michiko, and Elijah followed at a more sedate pace.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- Rashad rushed upstairs after John Lee, but the desperate youth was not slowing down to allow him to catch up. Ann O'Neill and Miles Graham were close behind him.
John Lake and Gretchen burst into the stairwell in time to see the others running upstairs. The other group filtered in shortly afterwards.
On the north fire escape, upper floor- John Lee pushed open the fire exit. No alarm sounded, as there was no power. He found himself on a metal landing about ten feet above the ground. The ladder that could be used to reach the ground was raised, but he could easily lower it and get down. There were also metal stairs on the outside of the building leading up to the roof. He heard the footsteps of his pursuers reach the landing on the stairwell just inside. Below him, an ancient school bus rested in the parking lot, but he did not see any people at first. Then Donald Woodridge stepped out of the bus and called up to him: "What's going on in there?"
In the lobby- Jerry Law remained in the lobby, outside the security office.
"Jerry, you still out there?" called Megan from inside the security office.
In the east hall, ground floor- Alvin, Murray, and Dr. Singh entered the cafeteria.
OOC,[b]Alvin[/b], [b]Murray[/b], and [b]Dr. Singh[/b] are moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point, and do not read posts in the new thread above the one in the link. Everyone else remains in the current thread.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- John Lake and Gretchen Ehrlich rushed upstairs. Adam, Stephanie, Chester, Michiko, and Elijah walked some distance behind them.
In the north stairwell, upper floor- Rashad pushed open the fire exit and hurried out onto the fire escape. Ann O'Neill and Miles Graham were right behind him.
On the north fire escape, upper floor- John Lee hesitated on the landing. Rashad Sadiq shoved open the door and joined him out there. The two FBI agents followed only seconds later, their guns drawn.
"Hold it right there!" shouted Ann O'Neill.
Donald lifted his hands, unsure of who they're speaking to. "Is there something wrong?"
Rashad Sadiq,[b]Rashad[/b] saw [b]Rachel Cohen[/b] sitting inside the bus. He also noticed several other people behind the bus, peering around the corner at the scene on the fire escape.
Jerry Law/Megan Petrovich/Kyle Rogers,[b]Jerry[/b] entered the office, where [b]Megan[/b] sat behind the desk and [b]Kyle[/b] was still locked in his cell. "Oh, good," said [b]Megan[/b], standing. "I was hoping to talk to you. Do you think you can relieve me on guard duty, or find someone else who can? I'm not really equipped for this. Maybe if I had a gun..."
"Yeah, like he could do a better job," muttered [b]Kyle[/b]. "He was in here when those thugs nearly beat me to death."
"I have one other question. How well do you know [b]Tariq al-Tikriti[/b]?"
In the north stairwell, upper floor- Stephanie and Adam led Michiko and the others through the door and into the hall.
John Lake and Gretchen Ehrlich stepped out onto the fire escape.
In the north hall, upper floor- Adam led the group down the hall towards the science lab. "We'll be there soon," he said.
On the north fire escape, upper floor-
"Nothing is 'going on,'" called Rachel from below up to Rashad.
Ann O'Neill kept the fire escape door propped open with her foot. "Spare us your paranoia," she said to John Lee. "Turn around and put your arms behind your back so my partner can cuff you. Then we're going back inside."
"Everything's fine now!" Miles Graham called down to the people in the parking lot.
John Lake and Gretchen Ehrlich emerged from the stairwell. The fire escape was getting pretty crowded now.
Rashad raised his voice: "Why are you arresting him? What did he do?"
Jerry Law/Megan Petrovich/Kyle Rogers,"Well, that's certainly true," said [b]Megan[/b] to [b]Jerry[/b], "but I overheard him speaking with his two friends in Arabic. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but it sounded suspicious. I have pretty good instincts about this sort of thing. Just keep your eyes open, I guess. Are you going to be staying in the office for now? I'd like a chance to get out for a bit."
In the north hall, upper floor-
"We're going to build a second EMP device," Stephanie told Michiko. "That way we can leave one in Omaha to keep the city safe and take the other on the bus, so people can stay safe while on the move." The group rounded the corner to the left.
In the northeast hall, upper floor-
"The science lab is right through that door," Adam Donnelly told the rest of the science group, pointing at the door ahead and to the right. "We won't have much daylight left, but the windows will let in moonlight and we can light some burners to help us see once it starts getting dark."
On the north fire escape, upper floor- Donald shot a glance to Rachel, then back to what's going on. "What's he talking about?" Donald inquired. "And why are you detaining him? Has he done something that warrants this?"
"I'm not 'detaining' anyone," said Rachel, apparently thinking that Donald was talking to her. "Rashad, are you in trouble?"
"Yes, what is this about?" asked Gretchen Ehrlich.
"We're not detaining Rashad, ma'am," said Ann O'Neill. She pointed at John Lee. "We're detaining this man for questioning in a homicide in Cheyenne with national security implications. He was spotted removing evidence and fleeing the scene." She glared at Lee. "Now put your hands behind your back. I'm not going to tell you again."
Donald looked at John Lee from below. "Is this true, John?" the janitor asked.
Jerry Law/Megan Petrovich/Kyle Rogers,"I did a tour of duty in Iraq with the National Guard, remember?" said [b]Megan[/b]. "I picked up Arabic while I was there. I couldn't translate all the words, but it sounded like they were talking about the electromagnetic pulse and something about getting information from the scientists. I know it might not mean anything, but it seemed a little suspicious, especially since they were speaking in another language. It's like they didn't want anyone to know what they were discussing."
In the northeast hall, upper floor-
"Sending out a radio message is a very good idea, Michiko," said Stephanie, heading into the science lab with the others. "Unfortunately, the EMP device has wrecked any radio equipment or components within its area of effect. It might help if we could send a group out beyond that range to find a shortwave radio and send a message out to anyone who will listen, but it is dangerous. The dead will still be walking out there. I did already tell Warren Air Force Base my theory that an EMP would stop them cold, but I don't think they believed me. Now we have confirmation that it works, so I would like to pass on the news. Finding a radio somewhere in the suburbs of Omaha would be a lot less dangerous than driving the 400 plus miles out to Warren."
In the science lab- Adam Donnelly entered and began collecting parts and tools, gathering them on a table. "These were left over from when we built the first EMP device," he said. "There should be enough left to build a second one, but that's going to be it. It'll take a while, but it'll be faster with more of us working on it. Ready, everyone?"
Elijah grinned at Michiko. "I was born ready," he said.
OOC,[b]Michiko[/b], please roll Physics.
On the north fire escape, upper floor- Rachel replied to Ann O'Neill: "John Lee must have done something terrible for you agents to take the trouble chasing him here--there are so many awful things going on." She spoke to Donald. "Maybe it's best we don't get involved--there is still the bus to fix."
Donald held up a finger to Rachel. "Did you kill someone, John?" he asked. "I mean... someone not a zombie?"
"It has to do with national security," Ann called down to Rachel. "I'm not at liberty to say any more."
"I didn't do it!" protested John Lee. "They're the killers! Don't let them take me, they'll kill me too!" Miles Graham grabbed his arms, pulled them behind his back, and handcuffed him.
"Nobody's going to hurt you," Ann told him. "We're going to take you someplace safe and give you your pills, and then the voices won't talk to you any more." She nodded to Graham, and the two of them marched John Lee back inside.
"Hang on a second," Donald said to the others. "On what jurisdiction are you acting? In case you hadn't noticed... the world is in the crapper. The government probably doesn't even exist anymore, which means your authority is no more valuable than the plastic identifications you hold in your wallets. If I am going to sit by and watch you strip this man of his freedom, I need to know the facts... I need proof. So how about we all go into a nice quiet room where we can hash this out?"
"I understand, no need to say any more," Rachel called up to Ann. She then spoke to Donald. "I'm going to focus on getting the bus fixed."
Michiko:
Michiko was too confused and troubled to be of any use.
Jerry,Well, I'l take your word then. When this all thing started I thought that nothing could be worst than zombies, but after the deaths made by those holligans I can see that everything can always turn to worst. Since your the only person that understand them, maybe you could ask their help to any task you need and see if you can hear anything more?
Rashad moves to block the agents. Wait a second, just hold on. There is no nation to secure anymore, in case you didn't notice. What are you doing to him, this isn't right!
Jerry Law/Megan Petrovich/Kyle Rogers,"I don't know if there's anything I could have them do that I trust them enough for," said [b]Megan[/b]. "Maybe helping me guard the prisoner."
"I'm in the room, you know," said [b]Kyle[/b]. "You don't trust these guys, but you'll put my life in their hands?"
"They're probably no more qualified to guard you than I am. I don't think they'd start saying something incriminating in Arabic if they know I'm in the room, anyway. I overheard them talking as I was on my way here. They thought they were alone when they were chatting. If someone would relieve me on guard duty, maybe I could listen on them without them noticing."
In the science lab- Stephanie got down to work, her expertise obvious to everyone. She began assembling the EMP device almost without even thinking about it, glad to have her hands busy.
Chester Johnsonshook his head. "I'm just a high school science teacher," he said. "This stuff is a little beyond me." Elijah, however, was a bit of a prodigy and was able to contribute. The work he had done earlier today had taught him much. Though Adam Donnelly had built the first one, he was too exhausted to be of much help. "Sorry, Steph," he said. "I just can't keep up with you, but I'll gladly stay here and watch you work. I can hand you parts and tools you need."
"Thanks, Adam," she said. "If any of you who can't help wants to organize a group to go searching for a working shortwave beyond the EMP radius, you could go do that. Just don't go yourselves, it'll be too dangerous. The dead will be walking that far out. I have the frequency to communicate with Warren Air Force Base, and you can tell it to whoever's going." She told them the frequency. "They'll want to talk to a Lieutenant Colonel Carmichael. They can tell him I said hi, and that the EMP works like a charm and I transmitted the message, so that the dead will hopefully stop rising. Elijah and I should have this done in under an hour, I think."
On the north fire escape, upper floor-
The agents were faster than Rashad, and they hustled John Lee through the door and back into the stairwell, ignoring everyone who told them to stop. He had to settle for following them. John Lake and Gretchen Ehrlich were right behind them.
In the north stairwell, upper floor-
"Hold up," called John Lake after the agents, who were hustling their prisoner downstairs. "I'm coming with you."
Jerry Law/Megan Petrovich/Kyle Rogers,"Could you take over guard duty for me?" [b]Megan[/b] asked [b]Jerry[/b]. "Or could you find someone else who can? That way I'd be free to investigate further."
In the science lab-
"Well, Michiko?" asked Chester Johnson. "Do you want to stay here with Elijah, Stephanie, and Adam, or would you rather go back to the cafeteria with me? They'll probably be serving dessert soon. All that ice cream won't keep long, and someone's got to eat it."
"Can you bring me some?" Elijah asked while he worked.
"Sure." Chester headed out of the room.
Elijah and Stephanie continued working on the second EMP device while Adam watched and lent what assistance he could. "You're absolutely amazing, Stephanie," said Adam. "I wasn't going anywhere near this fast when I built the first one. You've already saved the world today, but you just don't rest."
"Thanks, Adam," said Stephanie, blushing. "This is too important to wait, though. If anything happens to the other EMP device, we'll need a backup, and it will allow safe travel once they get the bus working again."
"After this, you've got to set aside some time for you. Your friend Liz was talking about organizing a dance tonight. How'd you like to go with me when you get off work?"
"I'd like that very much."
In the north stairwell, upper floor- John Lake and Gretchen Ehrlich followed Rashad downstairs.
OOC,[b]John Lee[/b], [b]John Lake[/b], [b]Rashad Sadiq[/b], and [b]Gretchen Ehrlich[/b] are moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point. Everyone else remains in the current thread.
Michiko:
-I'l go with you. This seems much outside of what I can do.
Jerry:
-Finding someone seems a good idea. I don't want to be bound to this place, when so much other things need my attention. Maybe asking one of those students?
In the security office-
"A student?!" said Kyle. "You gotta be kidding me! At least Megan's a soldier, even if she doesn't have a gun."
"Maybe if you could find that police detective, Gretchen Ehrlich," said Megan. "She didn't want to take Kyle off my hands earlier, but you might get her to change her mind. Rachel Cohen's quite capable, but she's in charge of overall security and probably has more important things to do."
In the science lab-
"Enjoy, Michiko!" said Stephanie. "Chester, can you please bring me some ice cream too?"
"I'd say you've earned it," said Adam. "I'll have some too."
"This is a lot of fun," said Elijah as he helped Stephanie begin to assemble the device. "I've always loved science, but I never imagined I'd be doing anything like this."
"Yeah, me neither," said Stephanie. "Growing up, I thought maybe I'd help fight pollution and save the whales, and now here we are saving the humans!"
In the northeast hall, upper floor-
"You got it!" Chester called back to Stephanie and Adam as Michiko emerged from the lab. "Come on, let's go get some ice cream." He led the way to the intersection and around the corner to the right.
Michiko: -What kind of flavours you think we will get? I love strawberry!
Jerry: -Look, the idea is just for take care, not being a true guard, we need people to more important stuff. You really think that we will keep someone important to our defense just to watch you?
In the security office-
"No wonder you just stood there and let them try to kill me," spat back Kyle. "You want me to die!"
"Easy there," said Megan. "The fact is, they are using someone who could help greatly with our defense to protect you: me."
OOC,[b]Jerry[/b], please roll Listen.
In the science lab-
"Maybe one day I can be a scientist as great as you," Elijah told Stephanie.
"Thank you," she said with a smile, "but I have news for you, Elijah: you already are. You've been helping to save the world here today before I even got here, and you're still hard at work right along with me."
In the north hall, upper floor- Chester and Michiko went up the hall towards the north stairwell. "I believe they have chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry," Chester said, "and there will be more than enough left, so we can eat as much as we like. And we might as well. It won't be any good after a few more hours, so it'll just go to waste if we don't."
Jerry Law,[b]Jerry[/b] heard a pair of footsteps enter the lobby, moving through it and towards the hall leading to the cafeteria. He heard other footsteps moving swiftly down the north hall and towards the lobby.
"No!" he heard [b]John Lee[/b] screaming from the hall. "Don't let them take me!"
"Now... hang on a second," said [b]Donald[/b] from further back, his voice very faint. "Why are you in such a rush anyway? This place you're running off to, is it devoid of these zombie critters? I'm pretty sure even if it is, the way back won't be. I ask because we're in the process of building a zombie-proof vehicle. Could be a great asset for your return trip. I don't suppose you drove a tank here, did you? And we don't really have any place in particular to drive to picked out just yet... might as well be in your direction."
"Something's up," came [b]Rashad[/b]'s voice, "this is way too suspicious."
"A tank?" said an unfamiliar female voice. "I don't see you with one. Don't try to claim that that decrepit bus out back is zombie-proof. It doesn't even look like it's running. We really must be on our way. Time is of the essence."
"Please, travel is dangerous," said another woman, "especially at night. At least spend the night at the police station. You can keep your prisoner secure in a cell, and there are enough officers to make sure the precinct stays safe. Perhaps we can even arrange transport for you in the morning."
Jerry Law,"This police station," said the first woman, "is it well defended? How many officers are there left? How far away is it?"
"It's about a mile to the west," said the second. "I'd say it's well defended. We held out all day against the hordes. There are about two dozen or so officers who survived. I was hoping to find another one here, [b]Officer Kate Wheeler[/b]. I know she patrols the school and surrounding area."
The first woman sighed. "Very well. Please guide us there, Detective."
In the science lab- Adam watched while Stephanie and Elijah kept working.
In the north hall, upper floor-
"You won't get fat from eating ice cream once," said Chester. "This may be our last chance to have it for a very long time, maybe our last chance ever. Anything we don't eat will just go to waste. And besides, there are plenty of guys out there who don't judge just by appearances. If any men are so superficial that they can't see your brilliant mind because they can't look past your body, you don't need them anyway and that's their loss." He led the way into the stairwell.
Michiko -Thank you. But it's not as easy as you think in the Japan. If when I get 22 or 23 I don't have a fiance, my family will try to get me one, before I'm too old to get one.
Jerry Law,Footsteps moved away down the west hall.
"Hold up!" called the second woman. "I can't keep up with you. I'll need to get in front if I'm to guide you to the police station."
"Of course," said the first one. "We should search him at this point anyway."
"A weapon," said an unfamiliar male voice after a pause.
"That was to protect myself against those things!" said [b]John Lee[/b]'s voice.
There was another short delay. "Found it!"
"Good," said the first woman.
In the science lab- Elijah picked up what to do quickly as he assisted Stephanie.
In the north stairwell, upper floor- Chester held the door open for Michiko until she entered the stairwell. "Are things that different in Japan?" he asked. "Here in America it's common for people to wait until their thirties before getting married. In any case, I don't think you need to worry about that at this point. The world's still a very dangerous place. Let's worry about tonight and tomorrow before worrying about things that may or may not happen years down the line." He led the way downstairs.
In the security office- Jerry Law stepped out of the office, leaving Megan and Kyle.
In the lobby- Jerry caught sight of a woman with red hair and a man with short black hair in black suits and ties, both about thirty years old, down the hall to the west, holding John Lee with his hands cuffed behind his back. Another man and a blonde woman, wearing suits of lighter color, stood nearby, as did Donald Woodridge and Rashad Sadiq. The man with black hair was holding a DVD case and a backpack.
"What? You found what? What is that?" said Rashad. He looked at John. "What's the CD?"
"I don't know," said John, "I never got a chance to play it."
"It's evidence that he removed from the crime scene," said the redhead. "Classified evidence." The man with her put the DVD case in an inside jacket pocket and shouldered the backpack. Then the two of them grabbed John Lee by the arms and carried him through the door into the west stairwell behind Donald and the blonde. The other man in a suit followed them, leaving Rashad in the hallway.
In the science lab-
"I love watching you at work, Stephanie," said Adam. "You look like you're really enjoying it, and you sure know your stuff. You're better at this than I am."
"Thanks," said Stephanie with a smile. "I do enjoy it. This is why I've been learning all my life, why I love science. Everything has been to prepare me for today. I just never knew it."
"It's great how science is able to save the world," said Elijah. "I never imagined I'd be able to help."
"Neither did I. But in spite of everything that's happened, I feel more alive than I ever have."
In the north stairwell, ground floor- Chester and Michiko came down the stairs. "Well, that is true," he said, holding open the door to the hall for her. "You'll find someone, don't you worry. And I have a feeling that nobody's going to be getting fat in the near future."
In the west hall, ground floor- Rashad saw Becky, Alvin, and Murray in the distance entering the east hall from the cafeteria.
In the lobby- Jerry saw Rashad turn to face him in the west hall. "No idea really," Rashad said. "A couple of Feds took, uh, John Lee into custody. He had some CDs on him that they said was evidence. I don't know why or what he did..." He also saw Becky, Alvin, and Murray enter the east hall from the cafeteria and Chester Johnson and Michiko Watanabe enter the north hall from the stairwell.
In the east hall, ground floor- Becky led Alvin and Murray out of the cafeteria and into the hallway, where they saw Jerry Law in the lobby and Rashad Sadiq in the west hall beyond it.
In the science lab- Stephanie and Elijah continued working.
In the north hall, ground floor- Chester and Michiko entered the north hall. They could see Jerry Law ahead in the lobby.
In the west hall, ground floor- Rashad, for whatever reason, didn't respond to Jerry. He saw everyone else converge on the lobby.
In the east hall, ground floor- Becky led Alvin and Murray into the lobby.
In the science lab- Adam looked on while Stephanie and Elijah continued to assemble the device.
In the north hall, ground floor-
"I don't know what's happened to my family," said Chester to Michiko. "My parents moved to Florida some years back. I've got a few cousins in town, but I haven't had a chance to check up on them today. As for a girlfriend, well...I don't have one right now. Guess I'm always too wrapped up in my work. Liz Somerville, the CDC scientist, seems to be able to get her work done and still find time to enjoy life. Maybe I could learn a thing or two from her. Now she'd make a wonderful girlfriend. She has both brains and beauty, and she's a very nice person. She's a good deal younger than me, however, and it's likely she's already seeing someone. Still, with everything that's happened today, maybe I do have a chance with her. At the very least, I can ask her to dance tonight at that dance she's organizing." He led the way into the lobby.
In the lobby- Chester and Becky nodded to Jerry as they led their respective groups into the lobby. "How's it going?" asked Chester.
Becky turned to the open doorway leading into the security office. "Hey, Megan!" she shouted. She often spoke with her voice raised, but this was louder than normal for her. "How'd you like to work on fixing the bus? They could use some more help, and I can take over guarding Kyle for you."
Megan entered the lobby. "You've got yourself a deal, Becky," she said with a grin.
In the science lab-
The EMP device was starting to take form as Stephanie and Elijah built it. It was now nearly a third of the way complete.
In the lobby- Murray wagged his tail when Alvin petted him.
"He must be talking about Darnell and his gang," Megan told Rashad. "They broke into the security office earlier, murdering one of the prisoners and beating the other almost to death before the authorities broke in. Then they took a woman hostage and escaped, stealing a car in the process. We have some people trying to track them down, but they had a bloodhound with them to follow their scent. Although, they did go on foot, so it should be possible to pick up their trail if you ccould find someone who can do it. I know Amelia Delacroix used to do some hunting back in Louisiana, where she came from. Maybe she could help with that. She's in the kitchen. I'm on my way to help fix the bus. If you're good at repairs, you'd be welcome to come along." She looked at Alvin. "Is that why you came with Becky? We could use your help with the bus, too." She walked down the hall to the north.
"Well, we're on our way to get some ice cream," said Chester. "You could ask Adam, who's up in the science lab, to help with the bus - if you can pull him away from Stephanie. Come on, Michiko." He led her down the east hall.
In the security office- Becky walked into the security office and saw Kyle locked in his cell. "I'm taking over for Megan," she said. "Just leave me alone and we'll get along fine."
"Well, I'm glad you've got a shotgun," said Kyle. "As long as you don't shoot me, that is."
"Don't tempt me. This is the gun you brought in, by the way."
"Look, I could help fix the bus. I'm good in shop class."
"Forget it," said Becky. "I'm not letting you out."
In the science lab-
"This is coming along nicely," said Stephanie. "A little more than half an hour, and we'll have it completed."
In the lobby- Megan led Alvin and Murray down the north hall, leaving Jerry and Rashad in the lobby.
In the north hall, ground floor- Megan pushed open the door to the stairwell and held it for Alvin and Murray.
In the east hall, ground floor- Chester led Michiko into the cafeteria.
OOC,[b]Chester[/b] and [b]Michiko[/b] are moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point, and do not read any posts in the new thread above the one in the link (well, for [b]Chester[/b], if he ever gets a player. [b]MIchiko[/b]'s player still has a character in this thread). All other players remain in the current thread.
In the security office-
"I'm serious," said Kyle. "I can really help out if you give me a chance. You can keep an eye on me out there just as easily, and you've got the shotgun to make sure I don't split."
"Just shut up!" snarled Becky, sitting down in the chair. It creaked under her weight.
Southwest of the school- Donald returned to the school and arrived at the hole in the fence that he had used to leave the school grounds.
Donald looked to see how feasible it was to repair the hole in the fence... but then realized that there were probably numerous holes in the fence needing attending. Better to get back to the work on the bus instead, he thought... shifting priorities quickly. He continued to walk towards where the others were probably still working diligently on engine repairs.
Handy,Did I manage to overhear them talking about not having a vehicle before I left the feds outside?
In the science lab-
"You're a lot better at this stuff than I am, Stephanie," said Adam. "It took me hours to build the first one."
"Don't sell yourself short," said Stephanie. "You did a fine job on that one. Besides, you made that one all by yourself. I've got help." She grinned at Elijah.
In the lobby- Rashad headed off down the north hall, while Jerry headed west, the direction that the FBI agents had taken.
In the west hall, ground floor- Jerry approached the door to the west stairwell, from which he would be able to get outside.
In the north hall, ground floor- Rashad moved through the hall towards the north stairwell, though Megan and the others were already in there and gone from sight.
In the security office- Becky leaned back. Resting her shotgun on her lap, she looked through the desk drawer until she found a deck of cards. She took out the cards and began to shuffle them.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- Megan opened the back door and led Alvin and Murray outside.
Southwest of the school-
There were indeed many holes in the fence, too many to fix. Donald returned to the parking lot.
OOC,[b]Donald[/b], [b]Megan[/b], [b]Alvin[/b], and [b]Murray[/b] are moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point, and do not read any posts in the new thread above the one in the link. All other characters remain in the current thread.
In the science lab-
"I never would have even thought of using an EMP if you hadn't come up with the idea first," Adam told Stephanie. "And then you found a way to get the message to us before you even arrived. Without your help, we would have been doomed. Not just the school, the whole planet. Now we have a chance, thanks to you."
Stephanie blushed hotly. "Really, I was lucky," she said.
"Maybe, but you were brilliant, too. Don't you sell yourself short."
In the west hall, ground floor- Jerry entered the west stairwell.
In the north hall, ground floor- Rashad entered the north stairwell.
In the security office- Becky dealt out the cards on the desk and began playing solitaire. After the EMP, the computer was fried, so she had to play it the old-fashioned way.
In the science lab-
"I guess I'm just not used to all of this," said Stephanie. "I mean, I've been a science fiction fan all my life, and I've fantasized about being a hero and using my brain to save the day. I joined the EPA to do my part to save the planet, but I never thought I'd be doing it this way."
"I'm certainly impressed," said Elijah.
"Me too," said Adam, grinning. "All this, and she can shoot too. I don't like guns myself, but I'm glad you've got one, Stephanie. You're a regular Annie Oakley from what I hear."
In the west stairwell, ground floor- Jerry opened the fire door and stepped outside.
Southwest of the school- Jerry could see no trace of the federal agents or their prisoners from here.
OOC,[b]Jerry[/b], you may roll Track to try to determine which way they went. If that fails, you may roll Idea.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- Rashad walked outside into the parking lot.
OOC,[b]Rashad[/b] is moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point, and do not read any posts in the new thread above the one in the link. All other characters remain in the current thread.
In the security office- Becky continued playing while Kyle lay down in his cell.
In the east hall, ground floor- Chester Johnson and Michiko emerged from the cafeteria with the small tray of ice cream. Chester led the way back to the lobby. Amelia then came into the hall from the cafeteria.
Southwest of the school- Jerry was able to find several footprints leading off across the school grounds to a hole in the fence. He was confident that he could follow them if he chose to do so.
In the science lab-
"Well, I don't like to brag," said Stephanie. "I was surprised at how well I could shoot. I mean, I'd had training, but..."
"You always shine best when the situation is the worst," said Adam. "You have a certain grace under pressure. Today has been the worst day in history, so it's no wonder you've performed so well."
"You got to shoot a gun?" asked Elijah, interested.
"Not at anything living, thank God," said Stephanie. "Normally I'd have been busy doing other work, but I was the only one in a position to do something, and my friends' lives were in danger."
In the street-
After calling back through the fire door, Jerry Law let it close behind him and followed the footprints across the grounds and through the hole in the fence, onto the street. They led to the nearby intersection, and from there they headed off to the west.
OOC,[b]Jerry[/b], please roll Spot Hidden.
In the security office- Becky flipped cards up from the deck, adding the ones she could use to the tableau.
In the lobby-
"He's going off by himself?" said Chester, leading Michiko down the hall to the north.
"I'd better go catch up with him," said Amelia, hustling into the lobby. "I wanted to talk to him anyway. I hope he isn't going after those punk kids all by himself."
In the science lab-
"What happened?" asked Elijah.
"We were in a motel across the road from the truck stop where our helicopter had made an emergency landing," said Stephanie. "The motel's owner, Mr. Foo, was helping me fix the laptop that we needed in order to decode the alien language and send the message. His maid Ellen and one of the guests, another scientist named Jenny, were there with us. We had to climb up to the roof because there was a whole horde of the dead on its way from the east, past the truck stop. Mr. Foo insisted that I climb the ladder first. What we didn't know was that there were about half a dozen more of those things coming at us through the tall grass to the west, and they were the faster kind. I got up to the roof just before they arrived. I started shooting with the pistol Mr. Foo had given me. Somehow I managed to take out two of them, one with a perfect single shot to the head, while Jenny made her way up the ladder and joined me. Ellen had a breakdown and wouldn't climb when it was her turn. Mr. Foo destroyed a couple more of the runners, but he and Ellen had to flee around to the other side of the motel and up to the balcony, and I couldn't get a shot lined up after that."
In the street- Jerry walked a block to the west as the sun began to get very low in the sky. He came across an RV that was stopped in the middle of the street. As he moved past it, he caught sight of something else.
OOC,[b]Jerry[/b], I needed a Spot Hidden roll, not a Listen roll, so you succeeded. That may or may not be a good thing. You are moving to the thread linked below. Do not read any posts in the new thread above the one in the link. All other characters remain in the current thread.
In the security office- Becky continued her game of solitaire.
In the lobby- Amelia hurried off to the west.
In the north hall, ground floor-
"Hopefully Amelia will catch up with him," said Chester. "I don't know what he thinks he can do. Officer Wheeler and the others went after them a while ago, but they haven't come back. If they couldn't handle it, I don't see how Jerry can. Maybe he just wants to find their location and report back, but he really should bring more people with him. The problem is that we've already sent a lot of our people who can fight well in the first group, and we need the others for defense." He entered the stairwell and held the door open for Michiko. As he did, Megan, Declan, and Lucy walked past them into the hall.
"Hi," said Declan. "We're on our way to get some sheet metal and welding tools. Donald wants to turn the bus into a tank, I think. They're busy fixing the bus so that it will run now, but this way they'll have the materials ready when they finish. It won't be too much longer, now that Donald's back and Alvin is helping."
In the science lab-
"Then what happened?" asked Elijah, fascinated.
"Jenny and I pulled the ladder up, and Mr. Foo and Ellen holed up in a motel room and held off the ones I couldn't get. Meanwhile the truck stop had been under attack by a gang of vicious skinheads. They'd come to find their leader, who was murdered at the truck stop and was the first reanimated corpse there. Dr. Hausmann had tried to save him, and that's how her arm got broken. Luckily, she wasn't bitten. The skinheads' second in command had a satchel charge and threatened to blow up the helicopter if they didn't deliver him. They had to tell him that he had been killed, which didn't please them. As they started to retreat, they planted the bomb near the diner instead. Before he tried to head for the roof, Mr. Foo had gunned down their new leader, who was holding the detonator. Somehow it still went off later. The truck stop had already been overrun by the dead, and the survivors had taken refuge on the roof. The building was blown out, but it didn't collapse. Luckily, the pumps didn't explode and most of the zombies had been inside and were caught in the blast. Even so, a lot of good people were killed. A few of the remaining corpses was heading over to the motel, but I managed to take two of them out with perfect shots again. Mr. Foo took care of the last one. Then the Air Force helicopters arrived, right after the battle was over. At first I thought the cavalry was there, even if it was a little late. How wrong I was."
In the security office- Becky lost the game. Frustrated, she gathered up the cards and shuffled them again.
In the west hall, ground floor- Amelia entered the stairwell.
In the north hall, ground floor- Declan led Lucy and Megan into his shop classroom.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- Chester and Michiko headed upstairs.
In the science lab-
"They didn't help?" asked Elijah.
"They helped themselves," said Stephanie. "They took over the motel and booted us out. They confiscated the helicopter, even though we needed it to get here and save the world. We were lucky we managed to reach it and get away while they were distracted."
In the security office- Becky dealt out the cards once more.
In the shop classroom-
The room was dark and windowless, but Declan knew his way around it even so. He helped Lucy and Megan gather all the materials they would need.
In the north stairwell, upper floor- Chester entered the upstairs hallway and held the door open for Michiko.
"That isn't the worst of it," said Stephanie. "I haven't even told you about what happened at the airfield in the middle of Nebraska where we landed to refuel. I...I don't like talking about that. I don't even want to think about it..."
In the security office- Becky hummed under her breath while she played solitaire.
Southwest of the school-
"Where has that Jerry gone?" mumbled Amelia to herself. She easily found his tracks and followed them, heading through the nearest hole in the fence and into the street.
In the shop classroom- Lucy, Declan, and Megan gathered up the materials they would need and returned to the hall.
In the north hall, upper floor- Chester and Michiko walked through the hall. Chester rounded the corner to the left, where he could see the door to the science lab.
In the science lab-
Everyone in the lab helped themselves to ice cream. Stephanie and Elijah ate it while they worked, being careful not to spill any.
"Better eat it fast," said Adam. "It's already starting to melt."
In the security office-
"Finally!" said Becky as she won her game. She put the cards away.
In the north stairwell, ground floor- Lucy, Declan, and Megan stepped outside.
OOC,[b]Lucy[/b], [b]Declan[/b], and [b]Megan[/b] are moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point, and do not read any posts above the one in the link in the new thread. All other characters remain in the current thread.
In the street- Amelia heard gunshots ahead of her as she advanced and quickened her pace.
OOC,[b]Amelia[/b] is moving to the thread linked below. Please stop reading the current thread at this point, and do not read any posts above the one in the link in the new thread. All other characters remain in the current thread.
Michiko -Well, in the winter we can always make more ice-cream in the traditional way. Milk, ice and whatever fruits we have. Of course, it won't be the same.
In the science lab-
"Hey, that's right!" said Chester. "The Romans invented ice cream over two thousand years ago, and that's how they made it. We're going to have to learn how to survive without modern technology."
"We managed without it for most of our history," said Stephanie. "We'll find a way to do it again."
In the security office- Becky looked through the drawers of the desk.
In the science lab-
"I can't imagine living without computers," said Elijah.
"I know how you feel," said Stephanie, "but until we can find a better answer, we need these electromagnetic pulses to keep the dead at bay. Once we come up with a long-term solution, we can set about rebuilding civilization. It won't be easy, but we can do it. Never doubt it for a second."
In the security office- Becky continued her snooping.
In the security office- Kyle rolled over on his side and buried his face in his hands.
In the science lab- Stephanie and Elijah were making good progress on the second EMP device, and it would soon be done. The light streaming in through the window was gradually getting dimmer, and the sun had clearly set. It had been a long, eventful, and terrifying day. Stephanie had done what just yesterday she would have thought impossible. She had deduced the nature of the threat the world faced, saved her friends' lives with sharpshooting skills she hadn't known she'd possessed, had the helicopter nearly stolen out from under her and her friends twice, been captured by a maniac and rescued from him, found true love and lost it, and saved the world. Yet there was still much to be done. They had survived the first day, but what horrors would tomorrow bring?
OOC,Congratulations on surviving Chapter 6! It will probably be a few weeks before Chapter 7 starts, but in the meantime you may continue to post. Chapter 7 will pick up the following morning. If there's anything you plan to do tonight besides sleep, let me know here.