EOTC: The Living Nightmare

[Norgarth]

While Reggie is amused by the pairs' banter, he figures Cal deserves an answer, he is risking his life to help after all.

"I'm 16," he tell the older man.

(OOC: crap, I thought I posted this last night)

[Chaser1]

While Reggie is amused by the pairs' banter, he figures Cal deserves an answer, he is risking his life to help after all. "I'm 16," he tell the older man.

"Are you all teenagers?" Cal exclaims.

"Well, I believe that age is just a number and state of mind," Mazur grins.

"Tell that to Susan and Hughe," Jack adds.

"So they sent one old man and three teenagers to find a hidden prototype power armor to save a small farming community?" Cal asks.

"Yes," Jack replies.

"Where's the sheriff or local militia?"

"Fighting the monsters. I hope you're ready, Cal. We lost people while fighting. That armor will give us an edge." Mazur explains.

"I see. I guess we can assess once we get there."

On the horizon, three pillars of smoke reach into the sky, then drift to the west. The desert heat causes Reggie to sweat more than he had hoped. As the horses canter on, the distant sounds of occasional gunfire mixes with the clopping of hooves.

OOC: Reggie's halfway to level 1

[Norgarth]

OOC: Hopefully he'll survive to reach it.

IC:
"We were what was available. At least one of the deputies died, only to come back as one of these walking dead."

To keep himself from thinking up ever more outlandish scenarios happening back home, he keeps an eye on the terrain. He doesn't want to trot straight into one of the monsters. He's also wondering about other people that may be out here in the wilderness, like those people they had warned away from town on the way to the city.

[Chaser1]

"We were what was available. At least one of the deputies died, only to come back as one of these walking dead." To keep himself from thinking up ever more outlandish scenarios happening back home, he keeps an eye on the terrain. He doesn't want to trot straight into one of the monsters. He's also wondering about other people that may be out here in the wilderness, like those people they had warned away from town on the way to the city.

At that moment, two flying armored suits (OOC: wo old style Coalition SAMAS) buzz the group overhead, nearly spooking the horses. They're headed straight for Camp Wilson, railguns forward and ready.

"Ummm," Cal hesitates.

"Wait, don't tell me. You're a wanted fugitive from the Coalition military," Mazur muses.

"You could say that," Cal replies.

"I'm sure they'll cut you a break if you're saving lives." Jack reasons as he spurs his horse back to trotting forward. Mazur's horse mindlessly follows.

"Yeah, I doubt that." Cal sighs, "But, you guys have given my wife and kid at least another week of provisions. Which lets us try to get ahead in the game of surviving poverty. But don't expect me to introduce myself."

"Oh, no problem." Mazur adds, "And should I discover that you're just scoping our town to loot it, then I may tell them." he gives Cal a serious faint smirk, "So, let's all stick together and I'm sure my father will reward you quite handsomely."

"Works for me," Cal grins.

Brad sees a dust trail being kicked from outside of town, closest to him and his friends. It seems to be avoiding something chasing it. Cal produces some binoculars and looks. "Looks like someone's chasing a couple of guys on a four wheeler... on foot. They're playing keep away, like trying to lead the guy out of town."

The two SAMAS disappear into town.

[Norgarth]

"... Should we check them out?", Reggie asks, glancing over at the others. "If the one on foot is one of the dead, we can put it down, and ask the drivers how things are in town."

[Chaser1]

"... Should we check them out?", Reggie asks, glancing over at the others. "If the one on foot is one of the dead, we can put it down, and ask the drivers how things are in town."

"We could," Mazur remarks, "But excluding our dear friend Cal, all of us are pretty badly beat up."

OOC: Reggie is down 11 SDC, leaving 9 left.

Jack grunts disapproval, "I mean, I could try and get the horse to kick the dead guy down and then trample him."

"Wait, dead person walking. Like zombies. Should be easy enough to kill." Cal pipes in, "In the books I've read, the common way to kill one is to destroy the brain."

"That still involves getting close," Mazur yelps, "Besides, Jack and I can't hit the broad side of a barn with a water balloon, let alone that thing with a gun!"

"Speak for yourself," Jack chuckles, "But I happen to be really good at throwing water balloons."

"May I see those binoculars, Cal?" Mazur reaches out his hand, not caring what the answer is as Cal hands them to him. He peers through them towards the dust cloud. After a few seconds he smirks, "If it wasn't for Ryan on the back of the four-wheeler, I'd say, 'Let the zombie eat Hughe.' but, alas, Ryan is with him. How unfortunate... And Hughe is driving..."

Cal takes his binoculars back as he brings up a thought, "If these dead people are your friends, neighbors and family. Are you going to be able to put them down?"

Reggie remembers the incident earlier today. He can't shake the image of his mother's feral yellowish orange eyes, when they're normally a beautiful blue color. How determined she was to kill the closest person to her. The heartbreak his father felt the entire time. Reggie has yet to process it all.

[Norgarth]

OOC: What is Reggie knowledge of/opinion on Hughe's driving skills (or lack there of)?

IC:
Reggie quietly says, "It's nowhere near easy, but I've already had to do it once today."

He'll turn his horse to head towards the pair on the 4 wheeler. once they get closer (say around 100ft) he rein up and get off the horse, moving 10 ft or so away from it. He doesn't want the horse panicking from a gunshot right next to it, and he's going to have enough trouble hitting his target without trying to do it from horseback.

[Chaser1]

OOC: What is Reggie knowledge of/opinion on Hughe's driving skills (or lack there of)?

OOC2: He's so so, as with most of the kids in town. Only Jinaan is decent on one.

Reggie quietly says, "It's nowhere near easy, but I've already had to do it once today."

OOC3: Sorry I need to change the post that you created to match what's all going on. Bonus exp for the effort though.

Cal sighs, nodding slowly, mostly to himself, "Sorry to hear that, friend. You'll become a harder person for it. If you need someone to talk to later, I'll be around."

At that moment, two of the flying armored suits; one being a SAMAS, the other being the same armor Shep left Lake Crenshaw in, appear over the buildings and shoot the zombie chasing Hughe and Ryan. As Reggie and friends gallop towards the group, the two power armor take to the air and fly towards the west end of town. The SAMAS pops another shot off, killing another zombie exiting the town.

Eventually, the quartet reach Hughe and Ryan. Ryan looks much worse than Reggie remembers. The entire left side of his face is black and blue, with his left eye swollen shut. He's alive but obviously clinging to consciousness, much like Reggie felt after getting smacked. Hughe frowns looking up at everyone. He points at Cal, "Who the f&*^ is that?" he demands.

[Norgarth]

OOC: Yeah, I got caught up on Shep's thread after posting. 8P

IC:
Watching what appears to be Shep flying around with a Coalition suit, Reggie comments, "Huh, wasn't Shep worried about being spotted by those other suits? Guess he managed to talk them into helping somehow." he pauses as the pair fly back to town eliminating another zombie. "I won't complaign about not having to fight those things if I don't have to."

Reggie rolls his eyes at Hughe's outburst. "Someone who came to try and help. You look like I feel Ryan, how are you holding up? What's the situation in town?"

[Chaser1]

Watching what appears to be Shep flying around with a Coalition suit, Reggie comments, "Huh, wasn't Shep worried about being spotted by those other suits? Guess he managed to talk them into helping somehow." he pauses as the pair fly back to town eliminating another zombie. "I won't complain about not having to fight those things if I don't have to."

Ryan and Hughe don't seem to catch on as Jack, Mazur and Cal seem in quiet, individual deliberation.

Reggie rolls his eyes at Hughe's outburst. "Someone who came to try and help. You look like I feel Ryan, how are you holding up? What's the situation in town?"

Hughe simply nods to Cal as Ryan answers, "I've been way better. People have barricaded themselves inside some of the buildings. Any who tried to run got caught by the fast ones and turned into more of these things. Lt. Colonel Daniels, Lt. Mikado and Sgt Williams are clearing what they can now. I think they said something about going to get your dad, Reg."

Jack shoots Reggie a concerned sidelong glance as Mazur cuts in, "What exactly did they say, Ryan? It would help with what we should be doing."

"I don't really remember. A lots happened since we last saw you."

"Well, if you happen to remember, it'd be really helpful." Mazur smirks.

Hughe scoffs, "Well, I guess that means Reggie's in charge in the absence of his dad. I mean, I could, but I like to think of myself as the dependable muscle," as he playfully flexes.

"Hardly the time," Mazur adds.

"Reggie, permission to try and score a field goal with the midget?" Hughe goofily smirks.