Geoff nodded and walked to the kitchen and said, "Uh, ma'am? One of my friends is feeling a bit woozy. Would it be possible to get him a glass of water, please?"

Nephi began to recover from his second shock, but isn't ready to say anything yet.

  "Maybe I should put this gun down now." said Hector as he finally lowered his shotgun, as he somehow doubted this, clearly touched-in-the-head, woman to be "blast the head off" worthy.

Xynthia nodded, still half-smiling: it was like the whole world was one big comedy put together for her entertainment.

"That'd be nice of you. Oh, by the way, I'm Xynthia, Xynthia Smith." She held out a hand, but not in anybody's exact direction...
This message was last edited by the player at 12:43, Tue 10 Mar 2009.

Jane followed Geoff in the kitchen, throwing one last glance at Xynthia, and arrived to find the old lady smiling to Geoff: "Of course dear. Here, let me get one for you."

Mrs. S opened a cupboard and took out a glass: "So, did any more of your friends show up? I heard someone knocking."

Jane peeked into one of the pots where something was filling the air with a very nice smell: "Actually, it's someone you know: little blond girl, name that sounds like a French car?"

Mrs. S froze in her tracks: "Xynthia is back?"

Geoff cocked his head at the tone of the gentle old lady's voice, "Yes, Ma'am, that's the girl's name. Is there a problem?"

Mrs. S sighed: "Well, I suppose not, as long as she has her pills... And even if she didn't, she probably wouldn't be dangerous."

Somehow, Geoff got the impression that her last part had been spoken, at least in part, in an attempt to convince herself of its truth.

"Thanks for the information, Ma'am," Geoff replied as he took the water back into the room, "I'll keep an eye on her and see she doen't harm herself or anyone else."

"Monica D'Angelo." Monica shook the hand being offered. "So what's your deal?"

"Who, me? I'm a pastor's wife. No, seriously! There's no law saying we can't be hot, you know?" She looked at the others as if defying them to try and deny that. "Anyway, I can't seem to find Ed. That'd be my husband, Reverend Edgar Allan Smith."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:30, Mon 16 Mar 2009.

   At that point Hector came out of his stupor, running to close the door with a big, "Oh shit!"

Xynthia smirked at Hector's haste: "Hey, take it easy pal: if you're worried about the lady in the flower dress, it's okay - I knew you wouldn't enjoy the company, so I sent her away. Oh, don't give me that look: I told you, they are a lot like kids - all it takes is a firm hand.

The doctor stepped forward and approached the young woman: "Look Xynthia, I know you think this is the rise of the living dead you have been announcing for so long, but trust me, it isn't. In fact, there is nothing special about it: we've seen this before."

He raised his hands to prevent possible outbursts from the others: "Please, let me explain. Have a seat, if you will, it won't take long."

"The thing that appears to be reanimating the dead is actually a parasite. It mimicks some of the functions of the dead cells it consumes, and once it colonizes a body it can replicate its original movements by partially replacing the cells responsible for them. However, it cannot replace the original digestive system, and it burns through its supply of cells very quickly. In order to keep the bodies mobile, it must have fresh living tissues to replace the cells it burns, which is why the bodies attack living creatures."

Opening his arms in a "that's all there is to it" kind of gesture, he finished: "The mechanism through which the parasite operates is still being studied, but I must stress that there is nothing supernatural about it. The dead are not coming back to life, and there is no evil intent reanimating them: just a strange product of unicelluar evolution, not unlike pneumonia."

Xynthia raised an eyebrow: "Nice story, Doc, but how come it's the first time I hear it? If this has happened before, why did the news never talk about it?"

The doctor shrugged: "Because the thing was contained, and divulging the results of the study were deemed a risk for national security - and not just by the United Stated. Most of the research is classified secret in at least three nations, that I know of, and a couple of folders are US Top Secret. None of the reports is below confidential - actually, even what little I told you is classified, but after what happened today I expect most of the research will have to be opened to the public: the cat is out of the bag."

Nephi recovered from his double shock in time to hear the Doctor's little explanation.  He thought about how much of the Lord's revelations he should share, and decided to share everything.  He said "Thanks for the information Doctor, but the Lord has shown me a few things - and the revelation was most uncomfortable.  No offense Xynthia, but you're crazy.  You're also infected with something that has no right to be on Earth, has made you even crazier then you would be, and has given you power over those zombies, though you're still human."
He then turned his attention back to Karen, and, without meaning to, said (in French) "Thank you beautiful woman."

Xynthia snorted: "Listen, John of Arc, they've been telling me I was crazy since I was fifteen, and you know what? I may be certified, but at least <i>I<i> never claimed to have a direct channel with the Big Guy Himself. Oh, and by the way, of course I am human, what the Hell else would I be?"

"Hey! Back off bi..." Karen cast a quick glance at Nephi and checked herself: "Blondie! If Nephi says you are dangerous, that's enough for me. I think you should go back to your friends out there."

"People, please! You are still guests in my house!"

"You are absolutley correct, Sir," Geoff agreed and stood in the centre of the room trying to exude calm, "we've all been through a heck of a lot today already and whilst I personally owe Nephi my life," his hand went instinctively to the bite mark on his face, "I'm pretty sure that the last thing he'd want to do is start a witch hunt. Why don't we all try to sit down and discuss this calmly, I'd say rationally, but as we're talking about such strange things, I'm not sure it's the correct word. Now, metaphysics was never my strong point, but let's try to be even and as calm as we can."

He looked over at Xynthia, "Ma'am, would you mind sitting down? Nobody will be harming you or throwing you out whilst I'm around." he moved over to stand near Jane, his touchstone and dead-eyed shot should the worst come to the worst.

"OK, lets try to discuss this in a more or less civilised manner. Who'd like to start?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:18, Tue 24 Mar 2009.

   As Hector slammed the last lock over the door he turned around with barely restrained  anger brimming on his face, "Nephi.......didn't we just have this conversation not twenty minutes ago about you blabbing this stuff to normal, rational, people?"

Nephi looked sheepishly at Hector.  He said "Sorry about that.  I must have been more rattled then I thought."  He took a breath and looked around the room.  "I didn't mean to imply that Xynthia should be thrown out or anything like that.  I'm a guest here, and don't have the right to say so.  All I was really trying to do was tell you why I was shocked when I saw her.  And I don't know why she can tell the zombies what to do.  Maybe her meds interfere with whatever parasite makes them zombies - lets her control them without becoming one."

Xynthia's smirk returned: "So... You say I'm crazy, but you believe the craziest part of what I told you? Hey, Doc, how do you diagnose that?"

The doctor looked unhappily from Xyntha to Nephi, clearly regretting letting either one in the house, and quite possibly the rest of the merry brigade as well.

Monica coughed twice to attract the others' attention: "Xynthia... Nephi... Karen... Everyone, really. I think the doctor was very kind and generous to let us in, and this is a poor way to repay this kindness."

Jane nodded: "You can say that again, sis. I think the least we can do is to try and be on our best behavior. That would include-" She stopped as someone - or something - knocked on the door again.

"You know... Considering there's an army of zombies going around eating anything that moves, there's quite a crowd out there."

Geoff moved over to the door and looked at Hector, "Same routine as before, partner?"
He waited for a reply and intended to open the door as soon as Hector confirmed the plan.

  At which point Hector then took a couple steps back, raised his shotgun once again and said, "Do it, Geoff"

Geoff opened the door.

As the door swung open, Hector found himself aiming his shotgun at a guy in his late thirties or early forties.

Judging strictly from his clothes, he was a priest.

Judging strictly from his 9mm, he was not not much into turning the other cheek.

Still, the gun was pointing at the floor, and he didn't seem too worried about the large barrel aimed at his face: "Good afternoon, officer. Don't mind me, I'm just here to get my wife. Sorry if she disturbed you."
This message was last edited by unknown at 19:19, Thu 30 Apr 2009.