EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Luckily, the armor stops complaining about the depth as they rise through the narrowing channel—but Shep feels the pressure building in another way as Carl’s stories wash over him like static. Echoes of another life, another battle. Each familiar phrase, each mention of the Cataclysm, stirs something raw and jagged inside.
He swallows hard before answering. “No… not sheltered,” he says quietly, his voice thinner than he means it to be. “I’ve seen my share. Enough that I don’t like talking about it— I can’t talk about it.” He forces down the bile rising in his throat as flashbacks of a bloody massacre threaten to overwhelm him.
For a few seconds, the comms stay silent except for the faint hum of electronics and the slow rasp of his own breathing in the helmet. His breaths quicken before he can steady them. “Let’s just say… the world outside Camp Wilson didn’t make anyone soft. You live long enough out there, you learn what survives—and what doesn’t.”
He doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he concentrates on putting one foot in front of the other, using his arms in a gentle swimming motion to help propel himself along—careful not to go fast enough to make a wake, slowing further as the stream grows shallower. He forces himself to focus on the terrain ahead, on the sound of the water against the armor—anything that isn’t memory clawing its way up through the cracks.
He swallows hard before answering. “No… not sheltered,” he says quietly, his voice thinner than he means it to be. “I’ve seen my share. Enough that I don’t like talking about it— I can’t talk about it.” He forces down the bile rising in his throat as flashbacks of a bloody massacre threaten to overwhelm him.
For a few seconds, the comms stay silent except for the faint hum of electronics and the slow rasp of his own breathing in the helmet. His breaths quicken before he can steady them. “Let’s just say… the world outside Camp Wilson didn’t make anyone soft. You live long enough out there, you learn what survives—and what doesn’t.”
He doesn’t elaborate. Instead, he concentrates on putting one foot in front of the other, using his arms in a gentle swimming motion to help propel himself along—careful not to go fast enough to make a wake, slowing further as the stream grows shallower. He forces himself to focus on the terrain ahead, on the sound of the water against the armor—anything that isn’t memory clawing its way up through the cracks.
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
OOC: Let's move Shep to thread EOTC: The Living Nightmare - Shep. This makes it less confusing to Tim so that he doesn't have to sift through entire chapters to figure out what to do.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Reggie had been thinking that they only really needed 1 day of food and a medkit. The other half of the food, the trail mix and the second Medkit can be handed over to the locals.
Then he hears heavy footsteps from inside and out steps something that looks like a cross between one of the flying armors they had seen earlier and a Glitter Boy (not that Reggie had ever actually seen a Glitter Boy, but he's heard tales of the super shiny armors)
To Jack Reggie merely replies in an awed voice "Dad may have found out when he became Sheriff. I sure had no idea..."
After Shep walks off to the lake, shakes himself and looks around. Since there's only 3 of them now, he'll take a quarter of the food he'd been saving and add it to the pile for the locals. "This may not be a lot, but it should at least help you," he says to Carl.
Reggie considers their two horses. Whichever one he thinks is stronger will get to carry double. He jogs inside and grabs the tools he and Shep had been using and brings them out, starting to back them away, before pausing while looking at the second shovel. He turns to Carl and asks "Would this be of use for you?"
Then he hears heavy footsteps from inside and out steps something that looks like a cross between one of the flying armors they had seen earlier and a Glitter Boy (not that Reggie had ever actually seen a Glitter Boy, but he's heard tales of the super shiny armors)
To Jack Reggie merely replies in an awed voice "Dad may have found out when he became Sheriff. I sure had no idea..."
After Shep walks off to the lake, shakes himself and looks around. Since there's only 3 of them now, he'll take a quarter of the food he'd been saving and add it to the pile for the locals. "This may not be a lot, but it should at least help you," he says to Carl.
Reggie considers their two horses. Whichever one he thinks is stronger will get to carry double. He jogs inside and grabs the tools he and Shep had been using and brings them out, starting to back them away, before pausing while looking at the second shovel. He turns to Carl and asks "Would this be of use for you?"
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. - George Carlin
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Reggie had been thinking that they only really needed 1 day of food and a medkit. The other half of the food, the trail mix and the second Medkit can be handed over to the locals.
Then he hears heavy footsteps from inside and out steps something that looks like a cross between one of the flying armors they had seen earlier and a Glitter Boy (not that Reggie had ever actually seen a Glitter Boy, but he's heard tales of the super shiny armors)
To Jack, Reggie merely replies in an awed voice "Dad may have found out when he became Sheriff. I sure had no idea..."
After Shep walks off to the lake, Reg shakes himself and looks around. Since there's only 3 of them now, he'll take a quarter of the food he'd been saving and add it to the pile for the locals. "This may not be a lot, but it should at least help you," he says to Cal.
Reggie considers their two horses. Whichever one he thinks is stronger will get to carry double. He jogs inside and grabs the tools he and Shep had been using and brings them out, starting to back them away, before pausing while looking at the second shovel. He turns to Cal and asks "Would this be of use for you?"
Cal nods, "Yes, it could be, but maybe you could use some of our help. We have four strong guys here and I get the strong hunch that you guys need it. What do you think?" He gathers up the supplies and hands them to the older lady and the woman with the baby.
Mazur shrugs as Jack addresses Reggie, "Help wouldn't be bad, but I'll defer to your judgement, this crap is all new to me."
Then he hears heavy footsteps from inside and out steps something that looks like a cross between one of the flying armors they had seen earlier and a Glitter Boy (not that Reggie had ever actually seen a Glitter Boy, but he's heard tales of the super shiny armors)
To Jack, Reggie merely replies in an awed voice "Dad may have found out when he became Sheriff. I sure had no idea..."
After Shep walks off to the lake, Reg shakes himself and looks around. Since there's only 3 of them now, he'll take a quarter of the food he'd been saving and add it to the pile for the locals. "This may not be a lot, but it should at least help you," he says to Cal.
Reggie considers their two horses. Whichever one he thinks is stronger will get to carry double. He jogs inside and grabs the tools he and Shep had been using and brings them out, starting to back them away, before pausing while looking at the second shovel. He turns to Cal and asks "Would this be of use for you?"
Cal nods, "Yes, it could be, but maybe you could use some of our help. We have four strong guys here and I get the strong hunch that you guys need it. What do you think?" He gathers up the supplies and hands them to the older lady and the woman with the baby.
Mazur shrugs as Jack addresses Reggie, "Help wouldn't be bad, but I'll defer to your judgement, this crap is all new to me."
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Looking at Jack with a raised eyebrow, Reggie responds "And I have so much experience with it?"
Turning back to Carl, he says "I gotta admit, some help would be appreciated, but do your guys have transportation? We want to move quickly. Also you should know what kind of shit they are volunteering for."
"Dead bodies started shambling into our town. They take a beating to put down, are fairly strong and feel no pain. They aren't real fast or smart, and tend to fixate on a target. At least 2 people killed by them proceeded to get back up as more walking dead." Reggie's voice roughens on the last sentence as his thoughts turn to his mom, before he pushes those images back down.
Turning back to Carl, he says "I gotta admit, some help would be appreciated, but do your guys have transportation? We want to move quickly. Also you should know what kind of shit they are volunteering for."
"Dead bodies started shambling into our town. They take a beating to put down, are fairly strong and feel no pain. They aren't real fast or smart, and tend to fixate on a target. At least 2 people killed by them proceeded to get back up as more walking dead." Reggie's voice roughens on the last sentence as his thoughts turn to his mom, before he pushes those images back down.
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. - George Carlin
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Looking at Jack with a raised eyebrow, Reggie responds "And I have so much experience with it?"
"I dunno, Reg. You're the sheriff's son and all. I figured that you would have seen something... like... I dunno. I'll shuddup. I'm dumb." Jack's deep voice nervously chuckles.
Turning back to Cal, he says "I gotta admit, some help would be appreciated, but do your guys have transportation? We want to move quickly. Also you should know what kind of shit they are volunteering for.
"Dead bodies started shambling into our town. They take a beating to put down, are fairly strong and feel no pain. They aren't real fast or smart, and tend to fixate on a target. At least 2 people killed by them proceeded to get back up as more walking dead." Reggie's voice roughens on the last sentence as his thoughts turn to his mom, before he pushes those images back down.
Cal nods, grabs a pickaxe and shovel, then turns to the others, "You guys stay behind. I'll ride with these folks." As they head back into the warehouse with the supplies, he tries to find the open spot on the horses, left by Shep's absence. "So how do we kill these things? I'm a bit out of practice since my younger days."
Mazur smirks with a frown, addressing Cal, "You seem to see this as sport. It isn't sport. It's our friends and family that we must euthanise. Please view each victim as though they're your own kin."
OOC: There may be some confusion between the name of scar faced guy, who's name is Cal, and Shep's armor's AI, who's named Carl, after his late great great grandfather.
"I dunno, Reg. You're the sheriff's son and all. I figured that you would have seen something... like... I dunno. I'll shuddup. I'm dumb." Jack's deep voice nervously chuckles.
Turning back to Cal, he says "I gotta admit, some help would be appreciated, but do your guys have transportation? We want to move quickly. Also you should know what kind of shit they are volunteering for.
"Dead bodies started shambling into our town. They take a beating to put down, are fairly strong and feel no pain. They aren't real fast or smart, and tend to fixate on a target. At least 2 people killed by them proceeded to get back up as more walking dead." Reggie's voice roughens on the last sentence as his thoughts turn to his mom, before he pushes those images back down.
Cal nods, grabs a pickaxe and shovel, then turns to the others, "You guys stay behind. I'll ride with these folks." As they head back into the warehouse with the supplies, he tries to find the open spot on the horses, left by Shep's absence. "So how do we kill these things? I'm a bit out of practice since my younger days."
Mazur smirks with a frown, addressing Cal, "You seem to see this as sport. It isn't sport. It's our friends and family that we must euthanise. Please view each victim as though they're your own kin."
OOC: There may be some confusion between the name of scar faced guy, who's name is Cal, and Shep's armor's AI, who's named Carl, after his late great great grandfather.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
"If you're coming you may want to grab some food, I only kept enough for the three of us."
Reggie looks at the two horses. They should probably stick the smallest of them with Cal, try and balance out the loads for the horses.
"We need to get moving soon, who knows what's happening back in town..."
Reggie looks at the two horses. They should probably stick the smallest of them with Cal, try and balance out the loads for the horses.
"We need to get moving soon, who knows what's happening back in town..."
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. - George Carlin
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
"If you're coming you may want to grab some food, I only kept enough for the three of us." Reggie looks at the two horses. They should probably stick the smallest of them with Cal, try and balance out the loads for the horses. "We need to get moving soon, who knows what's happening back in town..."
Cal shrugs, "Food isn't important right now if your friends and family are in danger. I can eat later." He sighs, "I meant no disrespect," to Mazur.
Reggie notices that Mazur would be the best person for Cal to sit with or for Jack to sit with him to balance out, since Jack is the largest of the four. Before Reggie can begin organizing, Jack reaches down, grabs Reggie's upper arm and hoists him up, "Then let's go!" he grumbles.
The pair of horses begin heading out of town, passing onlookers who avert their gaze upon seeing Cal. Then the group reaches the edge of the city, overlooking the bridge back to the road home. Upon crossing the bridge, a native approaches, hands outstretched, begging for money, booze or food. Once again, upon seeing Cal, previously known as Scarface, the native lowers his head without word and walks away.
They cross the bridge at more of a gallop, Mazur bouncing around in his saddle, only to be held in place by Cal, they reach the guardpost, just inside of the range of the elevated plateau turrets. The same guards as before exit the shack, weapons ready, but not aimed.
"Ah! you guys are back!" he glances at each person's face, "Calvin! You leaving town or finally find a legit job? And where's the old man?"
"Legit job! Quite important actually. You should let us through, lives are at stake." Cal replies.
"Oh yeah? Like what?" The guard challengingly asks.
"Like 303 West Wilson Avenue will blow up if you don't hurry the hell up kind of importance," Cal's glare could flash freeze the desert. "Or even 1518 West main stree..."
"Let em through!" The guard shouts, interrupting Cal. Jack and Mazur give each other concerned glances.
Cal nods, "That's what I thought..." as the group continues towards Camp Wilson.
Cal shrugs, "Food isn't important right now if your friends and family are in danger. I can eat later." He sighs, "I meant no disrespect," to Mazur.
Reggie notices that Mazur would be the best person for Cal to sit with or for Jack to sit with him to balance out, since Jack is the largest of the four. Before Reggie can begin organizing, Jack reaches down, grabs Reggie's upper arm and hoists him up, "Then let's go!" he grumbles.
The pair of horses begin heading out of town, passing onlookers who avert their gaze upon seeing Cal. Then the group reaches the edge of the city, overlooking the bridge back to the road home. Upon crossing the bridge, a native approaches, hands outstretched, begging for money, booze or food. Once again, upon seeing Cal, previously known as Scarface, the native lowers his head without word and walks away.
They cross the bridge at more of a gallop, Mazur bouncing around in his saddle, only to be held in place by Cal, they reach the guardpost, just inside of the range of the elevated plateau turrets. The same guards as before exit the shack, weapons ready, but not aimed.
"Ah! you guys are back!" he glances at each person's face, "Calvin! You leaving town or finally find a legit job? And where's the old man?"
"Legit job! Quite important actually. You should let us through, lives are at stake." Cal replies.
"Oh yeah? Like what?" The guard challengingly asks.
"Like 303 West Wilson Avenue will blow up if you don't hurry the hell up kind of importance," Cal's glare could flash freeze the desert. "Or even 1518 West main stree..."
"Let em through!" The guard shouts, interrupting Cal. Jack and Mazur give each other concerned glances.
Cal nods, "That's what I thought..." as the group continues towards Camp Wilson.
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Reggie is sort of glad Cal managed to convince the guards to let them through quickly, as he's unsure how well he could lie about Shep's current activities. On the other hand, Cal's words and the fact the guards took them seriously are more than a bit concerning. Cal's obviously someone of importance here.
But they are through the gates and headed back home at best possible speed (which is presumably a mix of trotting and walking so as to not exhaust the horses). Hopefully things won't have gotten too much worse by the time they get back. Reggie also finds himself wondering how Shep is doing. Will he make it back before them? After?
And they still don't know what caused all this in the first place...
But they are through the gates and headed back home at best possible speed (which is presumably a mix of trotting and walking so as to not exhaust the horses). Hopefully things won't have gotten too much worse by the time they get back. Reggie also finds himself wondering how Shep is doing. Will he make it back before them? After?
And they still don't know what caused all this in the first place...
The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live. - George Carlin
Re: EOTC: The Living Nightmare
Reggie is sort of glad that Cal managed to convince the guards to let them through quickly, as he's unsure how well he could lie about Shep's current activities. On the other hand, Cal's words and the fact the guards took them seriously are more than a bit concerning. Cal's obviously someone of importance here.
But they are through the gates and headed back home at best possible speed (which is presumably a mix of trotting and walking so as to not exhaust the horses). Hopefully things won't have gotten too much worse by the time they get back. Reggie also finds himself wondering how Shep is doing. Will he make it back before them? After? And they still don't know what caused all this in the first place...
"I'm starting to get a very bad feeling," Mazur comments, "Almost cripplingly so."
"Have you eaten?" Jack asks.
"No, Jack. I'm not hungry. I'm incredibly surprised that you are; considering all that we've been through."
"Well, I gotta eat! Hard to focus unless I do." Jack shrugs.
"It's about all you're capable of focusing on," Mazur jabs.
Cal jumps in, "How old are you guys? Jeez!"
"Older after today," Jack replies.
Mazur scoffs, "That's just how time works, every second makes us older. It's quite fascinating, really."
"Okay, smartass!" Cal scowls, half smiling, "How old?"
But they are through the gates and headed back home at best possible speed (which is presumably a mix of trotting and walking so as to not exhaust the horses). Hopefully things won't have gotten too much worse by the time they get back. Reggie also finds himself wondering how Shep is doing. Will he make it back before them? After? And they still don't know what caused all this in the first place...
"I'm starting to get a very bad feeling," Mazur comments, "Almost cripplingly so."
"Have you eaten?" Jack asks.
"No, Jack. I'm not hungry. I'm incredibly surprised that you are; considering all that we've been through."
"Well, I gotta eat! Hard to focus unless I do." Jack shrugs.
"It's about all you're capable of focusing on," Mazur jabs.
Cal jumps in, "How old are you guys? Jeez!"
"Older after today," Jack replies.
Mazur scoffs, "That's just how time works, every second makes us older. It's quite fascinating, really."
"Okay, smartass!" Cal scowls, half smiling, "How old?"
"I plan to live forever. Or die trying..." Vila - Blakes 7