Urban Dead: The Price of the Oath

[Josh]

"Marley and me are going to get Trouble out," Freddy said. "There's some weird, incoherent guy with her."

"Zimmerman'll never authorize it in a million years," Marley said. "So we weren't going to ask. Now, if you'll kindly ignore this, we'll go get Gill or Dorian to tag along."

"Call it an unauthorized Guard op," Freddy said with a grin. "I just deputized Marley here."

They'd obviously hit it off fairly quickly.

[Caz]

Her first response, an almost reflex, was to comment that she should accompany them. She then realised this would be ridiculous, leaving the mall at this point, no matter how helpful she could be to the girl.

"I'll check in on everyone and see who's available," she said.

[Pcm979]

"Alright, you lot." Punt said, pacing in front of the small crew he'd arranged.

"You're all 2nd, or original Militia. Means you've seen more shit 'n th' rest 'f the Mall put together."

He gave the group a once-over with his Eye. Twinges of worry, of course. Anyone who wasn't at least a little worried about saving their skin was over the edge. Too far gone. Like you, eh? He thought with a thin smile.

"Now, there's still two, two-fifty of th' fuckin' things out there. Gettin' their shit together. So, we 'n stay here, cold 'n' scared 'till they're up for round two. Or, we go out there 'n' prove we're worth a damn."

He wheeled around, racking his shotgun.

"Questions?" He asked. Nobody moved. "Good. Los, team two. Team one, y'r with me. Now get y'r arses in gear."

---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

The Leader watched the snow come down curiously. Cold. A new obstacle.
Or rather, an old one. Images rushed through his head- Sheep, huddling for warmth in the dead of winter. With a thought, the weaker Zombies under his control burrowed underneath piles of rubble, the faster, stronger ones herding them like cattle. It would suffice.

Another image flashed through his head. Fire. Fire was hot. Heat was good. So, fire was good.

---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------

"Doc to Head Hunter, is this thing working?" Mike's voice piped through the radio cheerily.

[Caz]

As Punt was making his little speech the boy hung back, but after the small group had been briefed, he trotted up to the man and gave a slight tug on the hem of his shirt.

"Uncle Punt... Where ya goin'?" he asked, glossy eyes focused on where the sound of Punt's voice had come from, almost giving an effect of looking at him.

Jared had been feeling better since Silver's team had temporarily dismantled the horde, his head finally feeling less crowded.

[Pcm979]

"Out. Gonna kill the smartest ones while th'r down." Punt explained, unusually verbose.

[Caz]

The boy looked down at his feet for a moment as though he could actually see them.

"When you comin' back?"

[Pcm979]

"When 'm done." He said simply.

[Caz]

"When you come back, will you help me look for my dog?" the boy asked.

[Pcm979]

"Yeah, sure kid." He said, ruffling the boy's hair. "Stay safe, eh?"

He clamped down on his thoughts; He might not be coming back at all. But what was new?

[Caz]

However, Jared 'heard' that just as easily as though the man had said it aloud. But he didn't know what to say. So he just stood there for a long moment, feeling stupid.

"'M not worried 'bout me," he said quietly. "'M worried about you. An' Dad."

He paused for a long time, then said:

"That's what happened to Mama an' Jackie... everybody keeps dyin'."

[Pcm979]

"'F it helps, I don't intend to die." Punt said, the very essence of reassurance.

[Caz]

The boy nodded, didn't say a thing. Finally, he said what he was supposed to:

"Mel says if I see you 'fore she does that she wants t'make sure you check in with her an' Zimmerman before ya go. So they can make a list of who you're takin'."

[Pcm979]

Punt sighed. It'd be so much easier if they'd just let him get on with it.

"Do somethin' for me?" He asked, patting his pockets and coming back with a grubby notebook and pencil. He scribbled the names down and tore off the page, handing it to Jared.

"Next time y' meet her, that's the list 'f names."

[Caz]

The boy had to grope blindly for a few seconds before finding the paper. He folded it neatly in half, then into fourths, then put it in his coat pocket. He stood there for another long moment, then said:

"It's okay if we can't find Bjorn as long as you come back, okay?"

[Pcm979]

"No point lyin' to you, kid." Punt said seriously. "But I'll do m' best. 'S all I can offer."

[Caz]

"Well that'll be fine, then," the boy said with a nod. "'Cause you're big an' strong an' healthy. You can take 'em," he said emphatically. "While they's sleepin'!"

[Pcm979]

"That's t' spirit." Punt said, putting a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Now I'm off, 'k?" He said, being careful to not just walk away like he'd do with someone who could see him.

[Caz]

"Okay," Jared said softly, as though it was something he didn't want to admit.

"Hey!" he called before Punt could go, "Take this. Mama an' Jackie said it's magic," he said with pride. The boy was notoriously superstitious, as evidenced by the charms he'd made for Melanie and Petro, as well as telling her that giving the general her crucifix would help protect him, as it symbolised something important to her.

He removed the small bag from around his neck, the one he'd used in his various "spells."

"It's called a mojo bag," he said. "It takes all the good spirits in a room and puts 'em right close to you."

[Pcm979]

Punt hesitated for a second. Finally he took it. "Thanks." He said, and set off, instantly switching back into his 'sergeant mode'.

"'K, this is how we're gonna do it. Los, you go over..."

[Caz]

The boy returned to the commons area, stepping lightly and carefully, and asked the next stranger he heard to lead him back up to Melanie's room to wait for her. The man politely agreed, and they headed up. The whole walk, Jared said nothing.

[Josh]

"Head Hunter here. Talk to me, Doc."

====================

The two men grinned at Melanie. "We'll be up here. We're ready to move," Marley said.

[Pcm979]

"We've got the power on," Mike said, "but the stairwell's infested and the elevators are down. How are you guys at climbing down lift shafts?"

[Josh]

"I think we can manage. We'll start filtering in. Anything else we should watch out for? You guys still have your clothes on in there?"

[Pcm979]

"Well, there's three or more shamblers behind a locked door down here." He said, ignoring the jape. "We'll need some firepower to deal with 'em."

[Josh]

If a grin could be audible, Petro's was. "I think we can help with that, Doc. We'll be there in a few. Head Hunter out."

He rose to his knees, waving a hand. "Let's go kill some shit, people."