So you remember the whole "Evil Terrorist Tries to control humanity" news panic, right?
The video footage of men and women with wings, extra arms, bodies made of metal, spikes sticking out of their backs..
Video footage of people that shouldn't exist attacking and destroying major cities without so much as a stop for breath?
And remember when that news headline was replaced with the headlines that tell of a red power that overtakes any life form and transforms it into a medical phenomenon?
That medical phenomenon had almost wiped out the human race. Fugitives from the Infection were being herded into gigantic space ships, and dropped off at experimental colonies on Mars.
There were still survivors out there. And one SET Operative had stayed behind to make sure that every last one of them made it out alive.
~~~~
The last news broadcast that Austin heard replayed over and over and over again as he, Addison, the man who had threatened to kill him and six children trudged across the seemingly endless Texas highway:
"This is Jenna Malcolm, although it doesn't matter. None of it matters anymore. I've been told to head to Fort Worth or Dallas for help. Neither gave me any. So I'm stuck here in this stupid radio station in this stupid studio with the door bolted shut, waiting to die. If you're listening, avoid the major cities. Stick to the small areas. Places with less people."
The signature tormented animalistic screaming of the Infected could be heard, until it was almost unbearable. The sound of door being broken down, gunfire, and then Jenna's last shaky, choked-out words.
"I'm signing off for the last time, everyone. Be safe."
A gunshot could be heard, and then nothing but the sounds of Infection filled the air until the station went dead.
Austin continued to put one foot in front of the other. His armor was back in its place, and he carried much of the supplies on his back as well as held the only firepower the group had left, which wasn't much. They had been walking for hours, only stopping for water and bathroom breaks. They ate while they walked.
Austin dragged his feet and stared at the ground before Dave said something.
"What is that?" He whispered.
The video footage of men and women with wings, extra arms, bodies made of metal, spikes sticking out of their backs..
Video footage of people that shouldn't exist attacking and destroying major cities without so much as a stop for breath?
And remember when that news headline was replaced with the headlines that tell of a red power that overtakes any life form and transforms it into a medical phenomenon?
That medical phenomenon had almost wiped out the human race. Fugitives from the Infection were being herded into gigantic space ships, and dropped off at experimental colonies on Mars.
There were still survivors out there. And one SET Operative had stayed behind to make sure that every last one of them made it out alive.
~~~~
The last news broadcast that Austin heard replayed over and over and over again as he, Addison, the man who had threatened to kill him and six children trudged across the seemingly endless Texas highway:
"This is Jenna Malcolm, although it doesn't matter. None of it matters anymore. I've been told to head to Fort Worth or Dallas for help. Neither gave me any. So I'm stuck here in this stupid radio station in this stupid studio with the door bolted shut, waiting to die. If you're listening, avoid the major cities. Stick to the small areas. Places with less people."
The signature tormented animalistic screaming of the Infected could be heard, until it was almost unbearable. The sound of door being broken down, gunfire, and then Jenna's last shaky, choked-out words.
"I'm signing off for the last time, everyone. Be safe."
A gunshot could be heard, and then nothing but the sounds of Infection filled the air until the station went dead.
Austin continued to put one foot in front of the other. His armor was back in its place, and he carried much of the supplies on his back as well as held the only firepower the group had left, which wasn't much. They had been walking for hours, only stopping for water and bathroom breaks. They ate while they walked.
Austin dragged his feet and stared at the ground before Dave said something.
"What is that?" He whispered.
Addison was just as silent as the world around them, only speaking in hushed tones to the little ones, encouraging to continue on. They were all tired, beaten down, in pain.
And before it would get better.. -if- it ever got better.. it was going to get a whole lot worse.
As Austin had taken most of the supplies, she alternated carrying kids, lifting them up to her back for a period of time. It was beginning to take a toll on her; she was a dancer, a runner, not built for carrying so much extra weight for so long. But, what choice did she have?
When Dave spoke, she snapped her gaze from the ground up, eyeing their surroundings. She heard.. something. She wasn't sure what it was, though. She glanced over at Austin and Dave, puzzled expression glued in place.
And before it would get better.. -if- it ever got better.. it was going to get a whole lot worse.
As Austin had taken most of the supplies, she alternated carrying kids, lifting them up to her back for a period of time. It was beginning to take a toll on her; she was a dancer, a runner, not built for carrying so much extra weight for so long. But, what choice did she have?
When Dave spoke, she snapped her gaze from the ground up, eyeing their surroundings. She heard.. something. She wasn't sure what it was, though. She glanced over at Austin and Dave, puzzled expression glued in place.
Dave clearly saw something that Austin and Addison didn't.
"That's... That's one of the things. Don't you see it?"
Austin shook his head. "You're dehydrated. Here, I've got some water."
Dave refused. "No, no it's real, it's a monster. He's... He's grabbing me.." His eyes closed and he fell to the ground. His mouth was bleeding.
Austin quickly handed Addison his rifle and ripped the plasma-powered pistol from his side, shooting Dave in the head.
Austin stepped away and, with a wide-eyed expression, turned back to Addison.
"He was... He just..." Austin shook his head.
"That's... That's one of the things. Don't you see it?"
Austin shook his head. "You're dehydrated. Here, I've got some water."
Dave refused. "No, no it's real, it's a monster. He's... He's grabbing me.." His eyes closed and he fell to the ground. His mouth was bleeding.
Austin quickly handed Addison his rifle and ripped the plasma-powered pistol from his side, shooting Dave in the head.
Austin stepped away and, with a wide-eyed expression, turned back to Addison.
"He was... He just..." Austin shook his head.
Addison grasped the rifle as he handed it off to her, and flinched as Austin shot him in the head. Her own wide eyes moved from Austin, down to what used to be Dave, then back up. The kids, by now knowing not to scream loudly, just whimpered and huddled behind her.
She shuddered, but nodded slightly, stepping closer to Austin to peer around at Dave again.
"I don't know what happened.. but you did the right thing.. He could've.." She shook her head. He knew exactly what could've happened. She reached and patted his shoulder gently.
"C'mon.. we need to keep moving.." Even as pale as she was naturally, she was exceptionally so now. She didn't know what was waiting for them, but it was the only chance they had of getting out of this alive.
In the back of her mind, she was panicking; what had happened to Dave? Had he somehow gotten infected? What if one of the children was too, or Austin?
She shuddered, but nodded slightly, stepping closer to Austin to peer around at Dave again.
"I don't know what happened.. but you did the right thing.. He could've.." She shook her head. He knew exactly what could've happened. She reached and patted his shoulder gently.
"C'mon.. we need to keep moving.." Even as pale as she was naturally, she was exceptionally so now. She didn't know what was waiting for them, but it was the only chance they had of getting out of this alive.
In the back of her mind, she was panicking; what had happened to Dave? Had he somehow gotten infected? What if one of the children was too, or Austin?
Austin stared blankly and just nodded, turning around and walking again.
He walked in silence for quite some time.
~~~~
Night fell soon, and the outline of the city was visible in the distance. There were a few buildings on either side of the road, and they quickly found themselves in an old motel. Austin bashed in the door of one of the rooms, and unloaded all of the stuff.
He was exhausted, and just fell onto one of the two beds.
There were a few blankets and pillows, as well as a rollout bed in the closet. Presumably enough for all of the children to sleep comfortably.
He walked in silence for quite some time.
~~~~
Night fell soon, and the outline of the city was visible in the distance. There were a few buildings on either side of the road, and they quickly found themselves in an old motel. Austin bashed in the door of one of the rooms, and unloaded all of the stuff.
He was exhausted, and just fell onto one of the two beds.
There were a few blankets and pillows, as well as a rollout bed in the closet. Presumably enough for all of the children to sleep comfortably.
Addison shut the remains of the door, blocking it as best as she could, before tending to the children. She pulled out the bed, and arranged the blankets and pillows comfortably, hidden out of sight, before collapsing on the other bed.
She groaned into the bed before sitting up. Her head was pounding. She could only imagine how Austin's noggin felt. She glanced over at him, then reached for the rifle she had leaned against the nightstand.
"I'll keep an eye on things.. try and get some sleep."
The children drifted off easily, exhausted, like they were, from the long day of walking, and she assumed Austin would be asleep before long.
She groaned into the bed before sitting up. Her head was pounding. She could only imagine how Austin's noggin felt. She glanced over at him, then reached for the rifle she had leaned against the nightstand.
"I'll keep an eye on things.. try and get some sleep."
The children drifted off easily, exhausted, like they were, from the long day of walking, and she assumed Austin would be asleep before long.
Austin sat up and shook his head.
"N-no... I don't want to sleep. All I need is to just relax. Just sit down and calm. You can sleep."
He rolled his neck and put his hand on the back of his head, leaning against the headboard of his bed. He pulled out his pistol and just looked at it, turning it over and over and examining the intricacies. He didn't want to sleep. He needed to think about what was going to happen once they got in the city. Was it as safe as he had assured everyone it was?
He knew there would be more than a few Infected in the city. Did he even know where the checkpoint was? He had been counting on his helmet to help him find it, but of course it just had to be lost in an unnecessary melee.
Hopefully tomorrow would pass uneventfully.
"N-no... I don't want to sleep. All I need is to just relax. Just sit down and calm. You can sleep."
He rolled his neck and put his hand on the back of his head, leaning against the headboard of his bed. He pulled out his pistol and just looked at it, turning it over and over and examining the intricacies. He didn't want to sleep. He needed to think about what was going to happen once they got in the city. Was it as safe as he had assured everyone it was?
He knew there would be more than a few Infected in the city. Did he even know where the checkpoint was? He had been counting on his helmet to help him find it, but of course it just had to be lost in an unnecessary melee.
Hopefully tomorrow would pass uneventfully.
Addison shook her head back.
"I can't, too wound up." She mimicked his position against his headboard, settling back against her own, rifle resting across her lap, fingers rubbing against the barrel, a nervous habit. Every now and then, she glanced from the sleeping children, over to Austin, then back to just staring at the wall across from her.
She hoped and prayed that they could find safety once they reached the city.. she knew there was no guarantee, though. No guarantee that the children would be safe, and somehow grow up. It ate at her, and she sighed in disgust, at herself, and the situation.
"I can't, too wound up." She mimicked his position against his headboard, settling back against her own, rifle resting across her lap, fingers rubbing against the barrel, a nervous habit. Every now and then, she glanced from the sleeping children, over to Austin, then back to just staring at the wall across from her.
She hoped and prayed that they could find safety once they reached the city.. she knew there was no guarantee, though. No guarantee that the children would be safe, and somehow grow up. It ate at her, and she sighed in disgust, at herself, and the situation.
Austin chuckled despite everything.
"Well, that makes two of us." He remained silent for a few minutes, trying to devise a plan. He tried to remember what the protocol was.
Right, like there's protocol for mutants overrunning the planet Earth. He coldly thought.
The radio transmission played in his mind over and over again.
"Signing off for the last time, everyone. Be safe." And then nothing but the most tortured noise you could ever hear.
Perhaps she was right: Maybe the Checkpoints were no longer there. Destroyed or blocked up against anyone else coming in.
Austin took a deep breath in, and sighed. He glanced over at Addison for a few seconds before speaking.
"How did you survive, again? On your own. With the weight of nine needy children, two parasitic men, and an old lady on your shoulders?" There was a tone of admiration in his voice- He himself had barely carried half of the group this far.
"Well, that makes two of us." He remained silent for a few minutes, trying to devise a plan. He tried to remember what the protocol was.
Right, like there's protocol for mutants overrunning the planet Earth. He coldly thought.
The radio transmission played in his mind over and over again.
"Signing off for the last time, everyone. Be safe." And then nothing but the most tortured noise you could ever hear.
Perhaps she was right: Maybe the Checkpoints were no longer there. Destroyed or blocked up against anyone else coming in.
Austin took a deep breath in, and sighed. He glanced over at Addison for a few seconds before speaking.
"How did you survive, again? On your own. With the weight of nine needy children, two parasitic men, and an old lady on your shoulders?" There was a tone of admiration in his voice- He himself had barely carried half of the group this far.
Addison snapped out of her stupor as he spoke again. She had been processing everything that had happened, and a few of the possible scenarios that had a chance of playing out tomorrow.. most of them didn't end well.
She thought for a few minutes. How had she done it?
"My dad.. When we were growing up, he was hard on us a lot, didn't want us growing up soft.. He always told us that if there was ever some awful attack or pandemic, that running around panicking would only get us killed. I couldn't get out of town, when this whole mess started, I had injured my ankle pretty badly the week before. I didn't know what else to do.. I grabbed whatever I could from wherever I could and went to the one place I knew I could fortify, to some degree.. Some of the kids from my class were running through the streets, then I saw the two guys trying to get in, so.. "She shrugged.
"My dad and brothers taught me how to fight and shoot.. I stayed in shape. I guess I'm just good at taking care of other people."
She thought for a few minutes. How had she done it?
"My dad.. When we were growing up, he was hard on us a lot, didn't want us growing up soft.. He always told us that if there was ever some awful attack or pandemic, that running around panicking would only get us killed. I couldn't get out of town, when this whole mess started, I had injured my ankle pretty badly the week before. I didn't know what else to do.. I grabbed whatever I could from wherever I could and went to the one place I knew I could fortify, to some degree.. Some of the kids from my class were running through the streets, then I saw the two guys trying to get in, so.. "She shrugged.
"My dad and brothers taught me how to fight and shoot.. I stayed in shape. I guess I'm just good at taking care of other people."
Austin nodded. That made sense.
"Well, you did better than I can do." He laughed softly. His smile was sad, and he stared at the bed for a few seconds before turning back to Addison.
"I feel like I need to tell you something." He ran his hand through his hair and let it rest on the back of his neck. His facial expression changed to confusion as he felt the computer chip, but he quickly reverted to his grim expression. "There's no easy way to say this, but I can't guarantee the safety of anyone in the city. I mean, the last time I checked, there was a transport station that would get people to our HQ above the atmosphere. But now I'm not sure. They might have closed it down, and there's been a surprising lack of communication from anyone in charge up there."
"Well, you did better than I can do." He laughed softly. His smile was sad, and he stared at the bed for a few seconds before turning back to Addison.
"I feel like I need to tell you something." He ran his hand through his hair and let it rest on the back of his neck. His facial expression changed to confusion as he felt the computer chip, but he quickly reverted to his grim expression. "There's no easy way to say this, but I can't guarantee the safety of anyone in the city. I mean, the last time I checked, there was a transport station that would get people to our HQ above the atmosphere. But now I'm not sure. They might have closed it down, and there's been a surprising lack of communication from anyone in charge up there."
Addison shifted to facehim, nodding, half smile curling her lips.
"I know..I mean, I don't know, none of us know what it's like but.. There's no guarantee for anything, especially anymore.." She smiled slightly, though it faltered slightly at the confused expression. She shifted again, and winced. Her head felt like it was about to split open. She sighed.
"Either way.. we wouldn't have made it even this far without you, so.. Thanks." She smiled sadly. "I don't care about me.. I lived a decent life, but.. the kids, y'know?"
"I know..I mean, I don't know, none of us know what it's like but.. There's no guarantee for anything, especially anymore.." She smiled slightly, though it faltered slightly at the confused expression. She shifted again, and winced. Her head felt like it was about to split open. She sighed.
"Either way.. we wouldn't have made it even this far without you, so.. Thanks." She smiled sadly. "I don't care about me.. I lived a decent life, but.. the kids, y'know?"
"No, none of us have. A decent life would mean settling down. Making a family. Finding something fulfilling to do. I started doing this because I didn't have anyone to care about anymore. Some people just came and promised me the chance to be able to make a difference, and to make things that would better mankind. And now they're probably dead."
Austin shook his head.
"On the bright side, I've got a pretty cool suit of armor." He sighed and laughed again. "Well, this is kinda like a family, right? Except I don't know any of the kids' names."
Austin shook his head.
"On the bright side, I've got a pretty cool suit of armor." He sighed and laughed again. "Well, this is kinda like a family, right? Except I don't know any of the kids' names."
Addison laughed bitterly.
"I always wanted to settle down, open my own dance studio,, start a family.. GladI at least got to open my studio.. make a few kids happy before they died." She set the rifle aside on her bed and drew her knees to her chest. "I'm glad you started doing this.. " She chuckled. "I would go for coffee with you.. You're not as much of a jerk as I thought you were at first.." She managed a true smile. Despite her exhaustion, and injuries, she actually looked pleasant, pretty, even. Maybe because she was actually somewhat relaxed.
She laughed at his mention of the armor, nodding in agreement, then glanced towards the sleeping children. She moved to stand near his bed to peer over at them, pointed to them each in turn. "That's Tyler, Jacqui, Lillian, Bradley, Chad, and Conrad.." She crossed her arms, watching them. "They're good kids..They think you're a superhero.."
"I always wanted to settle down, open my own dance studio,, start a family.. GladI at least got to open my studio.. make a few kids happy before they died." She set the rifle aside on her bed and drew her knees to her chest. "I'm glad you started doing this.. " She chuckled. "I would go for coffee with you.. You're not as much of a jerk as I thought you were at first.." She managed a true smile. Despite her exhaustion, and injuries, she actually looked pleasant, pretty, even. Maybe because she was actually somewhat relaxed.
She laughed at his mention of the armor, nodding in agreement, then glanced towards the sleeping children. She moved to stand near his bed to peer over at them, pointed to them each in turn. "That's Tyler, Jacqui, Lillian, Bradley, Chad, and Conrad.." She crossed her arms, watching them. "They're good kids..They think you're a superhero.."
Austin raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Not as much of a jerk, huh? But I'm still slightly a jerk, right?"
He laughed and shook his head. "That would be awesome, if we can find the checkpoint. Don't worry, I don't think I would change what I chose if I had the ability to do it anyway. I would probably just write boring sci-fi novels or something like that." Austin definitely thought she looked pretty: She wasn't so tense now.
Austin's eyes followed Addison's finger towards the kids, identifying each of them. "Well, I'm glad they think so. I'm really just pretending."
He laughed and shook his head. "That would be awesome, if we can find the checkpoint. Don't worry, I don't think I would change what I chose if I had the ability to do it anyway. I would probably just write boring sci-fi novels or something like that." Austin definitely thought she looked pretty: She wasn't so tense now.
Austin's eyes followed Addison's finger towards the kids, identifying each of them. "Well, I'm glad they think so. I'm really just pretending."
Laughing quietly, Addison nodded and smiled. "Just slightly..And oh, I know that.. but they don't." She chuckled again. She remained standing, gaze finally moving from the sleeping kids back over to him. "I'm sorry you got stuck with a useless ballet teacher and a pack of kids." She laughed again, reaching up to comb through her messy hair, trying to tame it into some sense of order.
"I'd read your boring sci-fi novels. I bet they wouldn't be -that- boring."
"I'd read your boring sci-fi novels. I bet they wouldn't be -that- boring."
Austin looked back at Addison and smiled. "No, no. You're fine. I once had to save a group comprised entirely of teenage girls. It took me and two other guys to get them all to safety. You've been more of a help than I expected. Furthest thing from useless."
Austin chuckled. "My whole life is a boring sci-fi novel..."
Austin chuckled. "My whole life is a boring sci-fi novel..."
Addison shook her head. "I bet that was a blast.." She smiled. Assuming he didn't stop her, she settled on the end of his bed, shaking her head.
"I don't believe you.. you have a high tech suit of armor, and you go around saving people.. That sounds like the greatest story." She curled her legs up to her chest again, chin resting on her knees, glancing over at him. "Much more interesting than mine, for sure."
"I don't believe you.. you have a high tech suit of armor, and you go around saving people.. That sounds like the greatest story." She curled her legs up to her chest again, chin resting on her knees, glancing over at him. "Much more interesting than mine, for sure."
"Yeah, it was. We had to stop to get them to stop panicking quite a few times. And they panicked over the tiniest things."
Austin patted the space next to him. "If you're gonna sit on the bed, at least sit where you're comfortable." He rolled his eyes. "Right? I'm like Iron Man, except I'm not rich and I'm bound by a government contract." He looked Addison in the eyes. "A dance studio? That's the kind of story I'd like to hear. I've got enough adventure."
Austin patted the space next to him. "If you're gonna sit on the bed, at least sit where you're comfortable." He rolled his eyes. "Right? I'm like Iron Man, except I'm not rich and I'm bound by a government contract." He looked Addison in the eyes. "A dance studio? That's the kind of story I'd like to hear. I've got enough adventure."
After hesitating a second, Addison moved to grab her rifle before climbing across the bed to settle comfortably next to him, sighing and resting her head against the headboard. She laughed at his reference, nodding. It was true, he was like Iron Man. When he caught her gaze and mentioned her studio, she smiled sadly, glancing down at the well loved rifle in her lap, legs criss-crossed beneath her.
"My mom died when I was really young, and my dad was active duty in the Corps, so I spent a lot of time alone.. He enrolled me in dance class on base one summer, so I could make some new friends at our new station, and I was awesome at it. When Iturned 16, he gave me my mom's dance shoes, and this hair comb she wore in one of her performances in college.. Told me she'd always wanted to open a dance studio, but never got the chance, so.. I decided that's what I wanted to do. I went to school for dance and performance art, and my dad helped me buy the space for the studio.. my brothers all chipped in, helped install the floors and the barres on the walls.." She sighed. "I just wanted to have the chance to make a difference in another kid's life like someone made in mine." She laughed suddenly, shaking her head, cheeks red. "I'm sorry, it's not the most interesting thing." She kept her gaze low, fingers fidgeting on the rifle.
"My mom died when I was really young, and my dad was active duty in the Corps, so I spent a lot of time alone.. He enrolled me in dance class on base one summer, so I could make some new friends at our new station, and I was awesome at it. When Iturned 16, he gave me my mom's dance shoes, and this hair comb she wore in one of her performances in college.. Told me she'd always wanted to open a dance studio, but never got the chance, so.. I decided that's what I wanted to do. I went to school for dance and performance art, and my dad helped me buy the space for the studio.. my brothers all chipped in, helped install the floors and the barres on the walls.." She sighed. "I just wanted to have the chance to make a difference in another kid's life like someone made in mine." She laughed suddenly, shaking her head, cheeks red. "I'm sorry, it's not the most interesting thing." She kept her gaze low, fingers fidgeting on the rifle.