(M) Outbreak: Genesis IC

[Rayne7]

Outbreak: Genesis
(Rated Mature for all content covered by the rating

“Shit.”

It was all Salem could say as he looked out into the streets filled with walkers that shambled through the streets. From inside the shop he was all but invisible to the outside unnoticeable to the dead that moved just beyond the windows. Taking a pack of juicy fruit gum from one of the racks, he popped a stick of it as he considered his options, stepping over the bodies of three walkers, each with a neat stab wound in the temple.

Wearing his hoodie and the black bandana as a mask to cover the lower half of his face, he looked more criminal than military, even with his weapons and equipment. He still had his dog-tags and military identification, but he felt it best not to advertise the fact. Reaching up, he rubbed the cold metal of the tags momentarily before tucking them back under his shirt.

He had spent most of the day searching for survivors, avoiding as many of the undead as possible. Twice he’d found survivors, but one was a gang attacking other survivors, forcing him to kill them while the other group was cut off by a herd of undead. Since then, he hadn't managed to find any others, though a couple of times he’d followed the sound of gunfire only to arrive after the firefight ended, finding nothing but empty shell casings and corpses.

Shaking his head as he thought about it, Salem shouldered his weapon and made his way out the back, sticking to the alleyways as much as possible to avoid the undead.Each time he came across them in his path, he pulled the grip knife from his rifle and used it to dispatch them silently, taking them in ones and twos. Suddenly, he heard gunfire some distance to the west of his position. Talking off at a jog, he headed towards the sound of what he hoped was a group of survivors more cooperative than the last.

[Fox Xalian]

Spoiler: It's the End of the World 

"It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine"

The words of the song playing off the co-pilot's smartphone filled the helicopter. "A very fitting song, considering what's going on" the female flight paramedic said. Her fellow medic nodded, he had been a kid when that song was in a movie about aliens attacking the planet, now he knew how the characters in said movie would've felt and the end of the world happened around them. As they came over the National Mall and past the Washington Monument a warning light turned on. "This is your captain speaking, the low fuel light has just come on here in the cockpit, please strap in and prepare for an emergency landing....wherever that may be" Bryce said. "How much fuel is left?" the female medic asked. "By what the handbook for this helicopter told me, half an hour's worth" the co-pilot said. "So based on our speed and heading we might make the Ronald Reagan National Airport?" the male medic asked. "One can hope" Bryce said.

25 minutes later, they neared the airport. They had seen all the roadblocks that had failed, the relief camps that had been overrun, the freeways and bridges blocked with countless vehicles, both civilian, emergency services and military, and the ruins of the Pentagon. And now they saw the airport, the tarmac covered in zombies, the terminals would definitely be filled. "We need to land there near the helipads" the co-pilot said. Both medics in the back nodded. One grabbed his M24A3 rifle and took aim at some zombies, while the female medic grabbed the door-mounted M2 HMG. "You two have 3 minutes, clear the LZ!" Bryce yelled as his squad mates opened fire. "30 seconds!" Bryce called out a few minutes later. "Clear enough, we're landing now!" the other pilot said, bringing the helicopter in hard and fast. "Get working, we're bound to have woken up a couple of hoards with all that noise, and send a message across the radio for survivors to get to us ASAP" the marksman medic said. "This is US Air National Guard medivac helicopter to anyone receiving, we have landed hard at the Ronald Reagan Airport in DC, to all civilians, emergency services and military receiving, we have medical supplies but are also running low on ammo and food and wont be staying long, if you can hear us make your way to the airport, we will wait here for as long as possible" Bryce said over the radio.

[SikstaSlathalin]

The Highwaymen played over the speakers of a supped up gun metal gray jeep as it bobbed and weaved nimbly through the stopped and sometimes burning cars of street near Middleton H.S. Most roads south were completely clogged or overrun by the undead or some punks getting in on the bottom floor of being Raiders from a video game. Building up stupid little car forts and running around in hockey or football gear for armor. And demanding he pay them in guzzaline or some shit for passage.

He so wanted to kill them for fun, but he wasn't willing to waste any of his ammo this early on in the Armageddon. Zeke would need every bit of his ammo and wits to make it all the way back from DC to the Edge Plantation. Once there then he could enjoy hunting down and looting the crazies with his family, they'd show these punk what a true raider group is. But he had to get there first.

He had modified the jeep a few hours after shit wen south. All but one door was welded shut, the windows had sheet metal welded into the frames with holes cut for looking out and he had heavy steel plates welded over his wheel wells with just a few inches between the edge of the metal and the road. The last thing he did was put a snowplow on the front and lined the edges with as much Concertina wire as he could manage. If he had more skill in mechanics he'd had done more, but he only knew the basics of welding and such so these modifications would have to do for now. He'd love to find an up armored Hummvee or maybe even a tank to drive, but military bases and such would be the first hit by Raiders or be under complete lockdown as the units in them acted on the Martial Law the government enacted as the outbreak got out of hand.

Zeke was surprised at how quickly everything went to hell. He'd have thought the US government would've lasted longer than eighteen hours. But chaos reigned out here, and all those years he thought his family was nuts for being doomsday preppers, it turned out they were right all along and the training they forced down his throat had saved his life at least three times already. One, when it first started he had his jeep and all his crap outside closest to the door and parked in ass first as he was taught so it saved him a precious few seconds before the Undead overwhelmed the firing range even with the ten armed men inside pumping lead into the Horde. Second, once he was out of the firing ranges parking lot. He had already spent the previous weekdays driving around DC and learning all the short cuts and roadways to decide as many escape routes as he could, as he was taught. And after he arrived at his apartment he had spent most of his nights making the flat as quick to gather up and go as possible he had food and water supplies by the door, his clothes were kept in boxes, and his other bug-out bags were packed and ready. The EMP had fried all his electronics so he just smashed them beyond repair and left them.

He hadn't gotten a pet yet, though he was considering it. But it was lucky he didn't because that would've meant more trouble and time when he had none to spare. It an emergency situation you have around five hours to two days before people used up their supplies and had to venture out for more which would mean looting and robbing. And he wanted to be long gone before any of that happened. He was in and out of his apartment in under two minutes, he closed and locked the door as a habit, but he never paid it a second thought as he got back into his jeep and roared off. Now though he was thinking about maybe he should bring some people with him to the homestead. They had lots of room and it was one of the more secure places in the state now that was for sure. He saw the High School and some people fleeing into the building and some deadheads shambling after them. He couldn't take many with maybe four people, but he had to try.

Kicking his jeep into four-wheel drive he mowed through the group of Walkers, then jumped out of his it and moved for the door.

[Honey]

The Brunette let out a string of curses ripe enough to make a sailor blush, wrenching the gun from the stranger’s hand. Every part of her regretted dropping down to street level to help the group of five. Her instincts had told her to keep going, but the little voice of conscience that was Reginald nagged at the back of her head. So with her added sneak attack, they'd eliminated the group of walkers pinning them down. After coming up with a plan of action, Kendall had turned to see if anyone needed medical attention only to be startled as one of the men started firing at a Zombie at the end of the street.

“What are you stupid?! QUIET! I said we needed to be QUIET. Not go all cock in hand, guns blazing, willy nilly! IDIOT! All you’ve done is give away our position and wasted ammo!! We have to move.” Cursing silently now she shoved the gun back into his holster, pushed the man forward and waving the others on she turned to her own gear. The climbing bag was only going to be a hindrance now, she had to move fast. Kneeling she ripped open the bag and pulled out only what she deemed essential. Hands steady she slid tools into her belt like she would for any climb, shoved first aid supplies into a small hikers water backpack and looped her climbing shoes and helmet through the buckles before shrugging it on.

“Haven’t even found you yet and you’re getting me into trouble old man.” She muttered, hating she had to leave the food, blankets, extra supplies, and (most importantly) the MIG welder, but the sound of Zombies grew steadily louder. Kenny leapt back to her feet and tore down the road after the others. As it appeared nobody was anything close to an athlete she caught up easy enough but that also meant the Zombies were gaining on them.

Not counting her own weapons, there were two guns in the group, a crowbar, baseball bat and some kind of make shift spear. It wasn't going to be enough. Wishing once more to be back on high ground she pulled her Ice Axe from her belt and turned, swing hard. The momentum had the blunt edge caving in part of a face, taking a zombie down. A scream went up as three walkers took down her new 'besties' wife. Fresh shots rang out, but with no chance of saving her, Kenny danced backwards. Light on her feet even with the added weight she swung again this time burying the bladed edge deep. But for every one she took down, two more seemed to rise.

No it wasn't going to be nearly enough...

-Condition:Good--Water:1.4L--First Aid Kit:Full--Ammo:50(9mm)Rounds--Mood:Pissed-

[Alpha Wolf]

Runa leaned down and peered through the broken window of a bullet riddled cop car with it's lights still flashing. Inside sat two officers, both recently deceased, killed by multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and head. She prodded the dead officer in the driver seat with the barrel of her rifle, causing him to slump against his dead partner. Satisfied that they weren't going to start moving, she reached through the broken window and unlocked the door before pulling it open and dragging the dead officer out onto the road. She quickly checked her surroundings, seeing only a couple of shambling corpses, none of which were paying attention to her as there was an ambulance just down the road with it's sirens still on.

Satisfied that the dead were occupied with trying to eat the ambulance, she quickly grabbed the Glock 17 off of the officers belt, shoving it in her backpack along with his two extra magazines. She was about to move on when a call came over the emergency frequency of his radio, saying there was a helicopter waiting at the airport. This gave her an idea, one that would have gotten her arrested when the law mattered. She then grabbed his police baton, and shoved it in her belt. She doubted it would be much use, but that's not why she's taking it. From there she grabbed his radio and badge, clipping both to her belt.

Seeing as it was a military helicopter sitting at the airport, hopefully a badge would get her a ride. She quickly secured the weapon and ammo of the officer in the passenger seat, shoving them into her backpack, before unslinging her rifle. She was probably fifteen minutes from the airport by car, hopefully running the entire way would get her there on time. She took a deep breath and took off at a full sprint towards the airport, dodging shambling corpses as she went.

[bluemoon]

Inside the gymnasium of the Middleton High School, a small group of people restlessly moved among the dozens of beds set up as a make-shift infirmary. They wore grim expressions as they observed the "patients", mostly friends or family, tied to the beds, most of them with bloody bandages covering recent bite wounds. The school had been overrun only six hours before, the main entrance breached by hundreds of the undead. They had lost more than fifty people to the horde, finally getting barricades set up and confining themselves to a small area of the school. Now, more than half of the victims had turned and there was little else to do but put them out of their misery. One-by-one they were given back to their maker.

Further along the corridor, a lone woman stood by a side door, her pistol drawn, looking though the glass pane impatiently. Her long black hair was tousled, the white streak stained a deep red from blood, but not her own. Her shoulders sagged and her sighs came frequently, but she remained true to her post. Her name was Andi and she had been spared the grisly chore in the gym--only to be given sentry duty. As she waited for the runners to return from their errand she wiped ineffectively at the new stains on her clothing, her hands coming away red.
------------------------

Andi threw the door open as soon as the awaited runners appeared, her sights pinned on their undead pursuers. Suddenly a jeep came into view and without warning mowed the dead down, a man jumping from the vehicle and heading her way. One-by-one her group filed in and she sent them down the hall, paying them little heed, her attention now on the man.

"Hey there cowboy...you can stop right there," she warned when he was just a few steps from the entry, aiming her gun at his chest.

The cowboy had his bow out and an arrow notched already when he was stopped by the chick at the door to the school. She had tattoos and multi-colored hair, luckily there weren't any deaders around or he might've had to force his way past this cute little sentry. But he simply stepped back slinging his bow over his shoulder and pulling his hood down, holding his hands up peacefully smirking at her. "Whoa there little lady, name's Zeke Edge. Just fixin' to see if y'all are okay."

Andi eyed the stranger suspiciously, noting his weapons and that good ole boy attitude. She had heard about trouble already brewing with raiding and the like and wasn't about to fall victim to his charms. "Mmm...good Samaritan, huh? Well, you can just keep going...nothing here but dead men walking. We got enough troubles...don't need no more. What say you just turn around and get back into your jeep?"

Zeke chuckled and was happy to be on his way, he did his good deed and he still wanted to get further south before dark. He tipped his hat at the girl. "Alright, ain't lookin' for trouble y'all stay safe now. Ya'hear?" But as he turned he saw a horde of Walkers bum-rushing towards the school. He quickly loosed his ready arrow dropping the Screamer at it's head before he ran to his jeep, grabbed his main bug out bag with food, his arrow making kit, and other supplies, and locked the jeep. Then he was rushing through the door and lifting the woman up with one arm. He took them both inside the school, kicking the door closed behind him just as the Zombies crashed into the barricaded entrance.

As soon as they were inside, Andi struggled against the grip Zeke had around her waist, her feet almost touching the floor. She glared at him, pushing against his chest to little effect. It was obvious he was concentrating on the door, his stare riveted on the frame, perhaps wondering if it would hold. She struck him on the opposite shoulder. "Hey...how about letting me down? ...Zeke... We need to get to the gymnasium, it's the safest place. Let...me....down."

The Southerner looked quizzically up at the woman on his shoulder then grunted lightly. "Oh right sorry 'bout that." He put the woman down and quickly notched another arrow. It wouldn't do much good through a metal door, or even the glass of a window, but if any of them got in or if he could rig some kind of explosive to the arrow it would be a big help. The door was holding for now, but the undead were relentless fuckers and with enough time they would get in. He wished he paid more attention to his parents bomb-making lessons. Then maybe he could plant some mines, but for now he'd listen to the local. "Well lead on little lady, this is your neck of the woods. I'm just a simple country boy. So you got a name?"

Andi looked at Zeke and shook her head. "You really are a cowboy...damn...out here in the big city." She started walking towards the gym, the smell of death assaulting her as she neared. "It's Andi...and thanks...for that out there. You probably saved my life." It wasn't long before she reached the doorway and stopped abruptly, causing Zeke to bump into her from behind. The occupied cots now held corpses, blood dripping from the bodies onto the floor in puddles, gore plastering the walls. The seven remaining occupants turned as the newcomers entered, their faces filled with grief and remorse. As for Andi, she was speechless and could only stare.

[Kris]

"You okay?"

"Yeah".

I was clearly not, but what else would I tell them? Some of them were fresh recruits and the last thing they needed to see was anyone from the team falling apart. Despite the fact their training was excessive, as any IDF fighter will be, and despite the fact most of them were there because they wanted to be part of this team, it was going to be bad for moral to see one of their supporters shaking and bursting in tears.

We've had been cut off for over an hour and even as we stopped to drink, we took turns guarding and patrolling. The threat has yet to be completely identified and it was best not to risk it.

The place was slowly falling to darkness, with buzzing and soft sparkling from street lamps going dark. On their commander mark they turned their flashlights on and tapped them to their helmets. Each direction we went for we moved together like working bees in a hive, making sure to double check each road and street.

The radio was hardly responding and all I got was muffled noises. I turned the damn thing off.

"So you really gonna record all of this?", asked one of them. A greenhorn called Benjamin.

"That's the plan"

"When this is done and be filmed", said Ben, "I want my character to be played by Leo"

I chuckled, "Ain't he a little old for this role now?"

"Don't care... whoever fucks Refeli deserves respect"

I cringed hearing him speak like that, but this was a war zone. If that helped him to relive some tension so be it. I still planned to slap his face later though.

"Raz?", I called to the commander who only marked for me to follow closer as he didn't want to break the formation, "What's the plan now?"

"Find a safe area to establish connection. Locating survivors will be our second priority until I hear back from headquarters".

"Understood"

"We have a mission here, Shir", he said firmly, "Now, Please don't be idealist on me. I want to be sure I won't see any of these boys mother when this is done- If I need to choose between them and civilians then- ".

"You'd make the right call, I'm sure of it", I narrowed my eyebrows in anger.

He nodded and fell silent.

We continued to march across the street, trying to keep our steps hidden as much as possible.

[SikstaSlathalin]

Zeke grunted lightly as he ran into Andi's back. He was taller than the woman and let out a low whistle slipping his hat off the back of his head and adjusting the leather strap around his throat so his hat rested on the top of his pack.
"Well damn, y'all don't mess around out here do ya. You best torch'em, that's the best way to keep this shit from spreading out."

The banging at the side door intensified and the hunter grunted lightly. He could hear the barricade creaking and giving way under the onslaught of the undead. He placed his hand on Andi's shoulder and whistled at the people left in the gym.
"Ok, we gotta move folks! These deadheads ain't gonna quit anytime soon, we need to get ourselves upstairs!"

[bluemoon]

The cowboy's words echoed in the large gymnasium, his command falling short as everyone turned to look at a man dressed in army fatigues making his way to them. Greying at the temples, the man was tall, even with his shoulders slumped. His grim features were pained as he walked, a heavy bandage encircling his waist. Only 16 hours earlier he had been an imposing figure, now the pale complexion and sweat beading on his forehead spoke another truth. He was dying.

Sergeant Winslow stopped before Andi, regarding the man behind her with a wary expression. The runners had brought back medical supplies, antibiotics, and pain meds, but it was obvious it was too late for him, his bullet wound too severe. "The barricades are failing...and this is our last refuge. He's got a point Andi...up or out. You have the keys, which will it be?"

As the pounding intensified Andi looked from Zeke to Winslow. Upstairs would confine them to the higher levels with no retreat...but the fence surrounding the field beyond the gym doors was breached and at least thirty of the undead roamed the area, with who knew how many beyond. With only half of the group fit enough to venture outside, there was little choice in the matter. She grabbed her keys and nodded at the locked door leading to the stairwell. "Up...I suppose," she said hesitantly as she grabbed her belongings.

She slipped her key into the lock and took one last look around. They were abandoning the only radio, now silent, and the majority of the food and supplies--which were no longer accessible. She still had no clear idea what was happening out there, only that the dead were walking and her life was in shambles. Staying at her apartment had seemed like a good idea until the hallways were swarming with them...and now she was here and it was happening again. She moved slowly up the darkened narrow space until she came to the second story landing. Holding the door open, she waited for everyone to enter before locking it behind her.

As if waiting for direction, the group stood listlessly after arriving on the second floor. Winslow put a hand on Andi's arm, getting her attention. "We had a transmission while you were gone...call came from Ronald Reagan Airport in DC. Good a place as any to run to if you get the chance..." His words ended there, his meaning clear--he would be staying here, as would many of the others. She merely nodded, chewing on the new information. Winslow and the others would make their last stand here...and they would most likely die. Andi had no intention of giving up just yet. She gestured to Zeke to follow her and led him up another flight of stairs, coming out onto the roof. The view of the city was devastating--fires raged and cars lined the roads like dead sentinels. Moving through the wreckage were hundreds of the mindless creatures, some shambling and others going at a faster pace.

She looked at him hopefully. "Do you think we could make it? To the airport, I mean?"

[Alpha Wolf]

"...if you can hear us make your way to the airport, we will wait here for as long as possible." Martin heard as he walked back to his cruiser, shotgun resting on his shoulder. His partner Brady was leaning against the passenger door, smoking a cigarette and trying to wipe the blood off of his sleeve. Martin set his weapon on the hood and raised an eyebrow at his partner, "What was that coming over the radio?" Without taking his eyes off of his sleeve or his cigarette out of his mouth his partner shrugged, "Some helicopter landed at the airport, they're giving free rides to anyone who doesn't try to eat them." Martin shook his head and picked up his weapon before walking over to the edge of the parking garage and peering over the side at the street six stories below, counting at least fifteen of the shambling corpses aimlessly wandering around or tearing into the remains of their victims.

He furrowed his brows a bit before walking back to the Tahoe, still a bit numb to how totally fucked this whole situation is. He leaned back against the front passenger side fender and shook his head again, "Going there would be a death trap, every psychopath with a radio could've heard that call." He said, watching his partner as he fruitlessly tried get the blood off of his sleeve. A good thirty second went by before Brady broke the silence, "You know the radio is a two-way thing right?" He said, casting a sideways glance to Martin, "you should ask them where they're going." Martin stared at Brady for a moment, half expecting another smartass remark, before nodding and making his way around to the drivers side. He sat in the drivers seat, leaving the door open as he broadcasted to the same frequency, "This is Trooper Martin Ackerman of the Maryland State Police Department to the National Guard Helo, it's good to hear another living humans voice, unfortunately I'm too far from the airport to make it in a timely manner, but if you could tell me your planned destination I'll try to make my way there." He spoke, a hint of hope in his voice. Hope was important in a time like this, especially after the day they'd had

After containment had failed, Martin and Brady had made their way to the nearest police station in hopes of finding any other survivors. What they were met with was something that Martin will never be able to forget. After making their way past the multitude of bodies that littered the front steps and entry way, they found the bullet ridden remains of the every officer that was at that station. Nearly twenty dead officers lay scattered around the lobby, and the only sign of life was a single officer who sat in the corner behind the reception desk. She trembled and sobbed quietly as she cradled another dead officer. Martin had approached and offered to help, but when she looked up at him he noticed she had a bleeding bite wound on her shoulder. In response to his offer, she softly whispered "I can't be one of them." before placing her service pistol to her temple and pulling the trigger.

The drive to their current hiding spot had been somber, Brady spent the entire ride trying to get the bit of her blood off of his sleeve. Martin could tell that Brady hadn't witnessed the death of another person before that had happened, Brady was still a Probationary Trooper and had only just graduated the academy six months before all of this happened. Before that incident Brady was always excited, absolutely loving every moment of his job, but since then all he's done is make snarky comments about everything. Martin couldn't blame him, the first time watching someone else take their own life is always rough to say the least.

Martin sighed as he glanced over to his partner, who was staring at the radio through the passenger side window, a look of complete and utter hopelessness plastered to his face. Martin knew that Brady was ready to give up if they didn't get a response back, but hopefully having somewhere to go would be enough to keep him going. He snapped his finger in front of Brady's face, "Hey, don't you start giving up now, the city may have gone to shit but we still have a job to do, we need to help as many people as we can while kicking as much undead ass as we can along the way," he said, smiling a bit and hoping to cheer Brady up, "Plus maybe there are some pretty girls wherever that helicopter is going, and ladies love a man in uniform." He said, which managed to get a small grin out of his partner. At this point any reaction out of Brady other than a snide remark was a good sign.