June 24, 2075

0945 CDT

Central Winner, South Dakota

Drew Howard's Point of View

“Ok, ok! I swear, it’s just us!” The woman calmly appeals as Lieutenant Grey pushes the blade closer and closer to her neck. “The others didn’t make it. Our squadmate Roberto got bit, freaked out, and fucked up our formation! We decided to hide out in this parking garage for safety, but then we heard you guys. Can you really blame us for being so wary of strange voices in the dark after witnessing that massacre on the streets? That guy… you just knocked out…is Maurice Llaf,” she glances at the man. “The little man on the ground, holding his groin is Zachary Ax” she introduces as she carefully extends her right hand. “…and I’m Captain Michelle Fox. We’re all that’s left of Squad Hades.”

You can never be too careful in The New World.

“If you’re expecting me to let my guard down because of a sob story, then try again,” Lieutenant Grey turns down, smacking Captain Fox’s hand away. “If you are a captain, then you wouldn’t mind telling me the security code to confirm it, correct?”

“One-two-zero-one-two-zero,” Captain Fox answers in haste.

“Sonya is righteously cautious, but is all of this really necessary?” B. Cooper whispers to me as he fidgets.

“Her crude method will reduce our chances of getting stabbed in the back later, B. Cooper,” I say.

“She’s about to slice her head off with a ninja blade, even though she’s unquestionably friendly! No way, man, I can’t, I can’t keep quiet on this,” the idiot refuses to listen. “Lieutenant! She’s clearly one of us, so can we just leave her alone and keep movin’, ok?” B. Cooper insists.

“You don’t know what people are like out here, so just shut your damn mouth, and let me work!” Lieutenant Grey responds in a sharp tone.

“Your friend is right, we’re wasting time. The universal security code is 2095 if that’s what you were going to ask next,” Captain Fox solidifies her innocence. “Your worries are understandable, and if I heard your obscene friend correctly, you are all members of Squad Zeus. All Olympians know of the infamous unit full of misfits, outcasts, and ass-kickers, but your popularity is because of you most likely,” Captain Fox explains in full confidence as she stands tall against Lieutenant Grey’s glare. “You must be Lieutenant Sonya “The Invincible” Grey because I don’t know anyone else in Olympus who can do what you just did.”

Wow, she figured it out like it was nothing despite having a blade to her throat. Captains are something else, but Lieutenant Grey is far beyond the level of a captain.

“What if I am her? What would you do?” Lieutenant Grey inquiries without budging an inch as she tightens her grip on her Halo.

“Well, if you are her, then I’d be honored to fight alongside you. To see you in action versus the undead and not against my friends and me here. I would also appreciate keeping my head attached to the rest of my neck as well,” Captain Fox pleads with a chuckle.

“You’re surprisingly calm,” Lieutenant Grey smirks. “Most people in this situation would be begging for mercy right about now.”

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“I’m honestly terrified, but that fear is being overwhelmed by the need to protect my friends and complete my mission,” Michelle replies as her body suddenly begins to tremble.

“We want the same thing, but there’s a significant difference between us, Michelle. I’m willing to kill for my friends, but your body language says otherwise. People reveal their true colors when they’re about to die, and you’re obviously mere seconds away from pissing yourself, which means,” Lieutenant Grey states as she retracts her sword, and places it on her belt. “…you’re no killer. This was a test, and your continuous intake of oxygen is your certification of completion.”

This is fucking crazy!

*

“Hey. Hey. Big guy. Buddy wake the hell up,” Lieutenant Grey says as she slightly taps Maurice’s face.

“Step aside, Sonya, because yours truly has got this,” Ruby confidently declares. “Besides, that’s your slicing arm, and ya need to save your energy for the zombies,” she explains as she approaches the unconscious Maurice. “Jeez, Sonya, you knocked him the fuck out,” she exclaims as she inspects his condition. “Nap’s over! Wake the hell up!” She says as she smacks him.

“Ah! What the?!” Maurice yells in dismay.

“Welcome back to the land of the living! You didn’t miss much, though. The dead are still walking, and they still want to eat us. You know, same shit different day,” Ruby explains in joy.

“What?” Maurice responds in confusion.

“You got a hearing problem?! I said un-ass because it’s time to go!” Ruby replies in irritation.

“Captain?” Maurice asks as he looks at Michelle for an explanation.

“That group we ran into is friendly, and we’re going to work together to get across the bridge we saw, Maurice. I’ll explain everything,” Captain Fox answers.

*

Ruby Redheart’s Point of View

“I have to know this before we discuss the plan. Are any of you bit?” Sonya asks Squad Hades as we all enter a big-ass huddle, save for Rachel.

Sonya’s so cool. Not cooler than me, though, of course.

“No, we’re clean, but what about you guys?” Michelle answers with a question.

Michelle is a black woman with short black hair up in a high puff, and a brown and yellow bandana tied around her forehead. I bet I can beat her ass.

“We’re clean,” Sonya answers. “Maurice, you’re not dead or paralyzed, so your neck must be ok?

“I’ll manage,” Maurice replies as he rubs the back of his neck.

Maurice is a black man with a fresh fade and is a teeny bit chubby. He seems pretty chill.

“I have a question. Why are you guys so violent? I mean, you see a guy, and the first thing you do is knee him in the nuts?” Zachary asks, very rudely interrupting the flow of the conversation.

Zachary is a skinny Caucasian man with short and bushy brown hair. He’s a little cute but needs to shut his damn mouth!

“I have a question,” I say. “Shut the hell up. We don’t have any more time to be flapping our gums! Sonya’s boyfriend, Captain Muscles, and big-headed Tuh-ree-sa are fighting for their lives right now while we’re loitering in the dark!”

“What? Luke isn’t, never mind. No es importante (Not important),” Sonya quickly denies the truth as her eyes flicker in surprise. “Ahem. L-let’s just get out of this place. There should be a bridge that connects to Winner Tower near the top floor of this building.”

Ugh! What the hell does this idiot want?

“So, speaking of boyfriends. You got one?” Zachary brazenly asks as we begin to jog.

“What’s it to you?” I ask.

“Want one?” The silly man asks with a grin.

“Hahahahaha! You’re funny, Zachary. You’re asking me this, not even a few minutes after I kneed you in your balls. I won’t judge your kinks, but I’m afraid your application has been denied,” I say.

Men are so, so silly.

“Damn. I guess humor can only take me so far, but this would’ve given us something to look forward to,” he says in a dejected tone.

“Ha. The only humorous thing about you is your face,” I say.

Wait. Why am I smiling? Well, a date wouldn’t be too bad, I guess.

“So that’s a yes?” He asks in overconfidence.

“Hmm. Upon further reconsideration, your request for temporary A-list celebrity status has been accepted, however, don’t you dare lay hands on the merchandise without my explicit fucking permission, or else I’ll be forced to bust your bo-jangles, in a literal and unpleasant fashion, ok?”

“Works for me. It’s a date then,” he replies with an idiotic smile on his face.

Sigh. Misery loves company. I wonder what you’re up to, Teresa.